Apprenticeships & Traineeships for school students

A quick guide for students and parents

A school-based apprenticeship or traineeship is a great option for school students to get a head start in their career and earn a wage while completing their South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).

What are Apprenticeships and Traineeships for School Students?

Students can commence an apprenticeship or traineeship in years 10, 11 or 12+, combining senior secondary school with vocational education and training (VET) and paid employment. They continue to attend school as required, participate in on-the-job training in the workplace and formal VET with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) under an arrangement known as a training contract.

Learning in school and attending work is balanced between the needs of the student, the employer and the school.

Students can complete SACE while completing a near full time apprenticeship or traineeship during their final year of school by using VET to provide up to 150 of the 200 required SACE credits. This may depend on the apprenticeship or traineeship being undertaken.

School Support

Many young people find the first year of an apprenticeship or traineeship can be the most challenging and many don?t transition into the second year of their training contract.

School structures and networks help to support students to complete their SACE and make good progress through their apprenticeship or traineeship so that they transition successfully from school into full-time employment.

The types of support available include regular structured contact with the school, delivery of SACE subjects, mentoring and monitoring their progress with the RTO and employer.

Training contract

The training contract is a binding agreement between the employer (including Group Training Organisations) and the student (and parent/guardian if they are under 18) that covers details about the apprenticeship or traineeship and the rights and obligations of the parties involved.

It has a probationary period, usually 60 to 90 days, which allows either party to withdraw if needed.

Under these arrangements, students start employment as a permanent part-time apprentice or trainee for a minimum (or averaged minimum) of 7.5 hours per week, which includes formal vocational training.

The employer pays the apprentice or trainee at the wage level and with employment conditions that are set out by the relevant award for their industry.

How can we help you?

VET Coordinators within your school can help with the first steps of preparing students for an apprenticeship or traineeship opportunity.

The Further Education and Pathways team within the Department for Education can also provide support to students who have identified their vocational pathway and wish to link to potential employers.

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