For students
Learn to Work
For students, a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SBAT) is a head start to your career combining paid work, training and school. Not only will you get an industry recognised national qualification, but also unit credit towards your NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC).
You can start an SBAT in Year 10 or Year 11 and some training arrangements can contribute towards your Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). No matter if you are on a pathway to higher Vocational Education and Training or University post-school, there is an SBAT for you.
Where do I start?
- Explore the school-based apprenticeships or school-based traineeships options on this website.
- Research interesting occupation(s) using sites such as My Future or Smart and Skilled Job Guides to find out where they can take you in the future.
- Talk about your career ideas with your school Careers Adviser and parents/carers.
- Discuss with your Careers Adviser how an SBAT will fit into your HSC pattern of study. Ask about Industry Based Learning as a subject option.
- Find an employer.
- Work with your school to submit an Application to establish a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship. (PDF 180KB)
- Your local SBAT Officer and/or school will help you on your way.
Things to consider
Students who take on a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship are motivated young people who don’t just want to plan their future career, they want to experience it now. It’s very important that you think about how you can manage your SBAT by considering:
- Is this a career I’m interested in?
- Can I handle school, work and training along with family and community commitments?
- Do I have a support network around me to help along the way? Teachers, careers adviser, transition advisor, parents/carers, friends, mentors etc.
- Can I make travel arrangements to get myself to work and training on time?
If you answered YES to the questions above, an SBAT may be a great option for you.
Check out the SkillsOne videos highlighting the School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships Program in NSW.
Australian Apprenticeships - contact details of your local Australian Apprenticeships Centre
Australian Apprenticeships Job Pathway Service - Students, careers advisers, job candidiates, parents and employers should visit the Job Pathways website to find easy to access Australian Apprenticeships information
Australian Apprenticeships Training Information Service - an 'industry site' providing resources for AACs, RTOs, GTOs and other organisations marketing and implementing Australian Apprenticeships
Fairwork Australia Awards and Agreements - Fairwork Australia - Minimum conditions in the workplace, rates of pay calculator
MyFuture - An online hub for commercial job listings. Great for getting ideas about different industries, skills and experience needed in the workplace.
NSW Education Standards Authority - School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships
NSW Industrial Relations - Making NSW workplaces fair for employees and employers
Training Services NSW - Apprenticeship & Traineeship Forms
Training Services NSW - Official information and help with apprenticeships and traineeships, including school-based
Young People at Work - Links for young people from NSW Industrial Relations