School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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A school-based apprenticeship or traineeship arrangement combines part-time work, structured training with a registered training organisation (RTO) and school studies. A school-based apprenticeship may give students credit towards their Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL).
From 2009, a School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship refers to an arrangement whereby a student enrolled in a senior secondary certificate (VCE or VCAL) is also released from the weekly school timetable to attend the training organisation and/or workplace, during the normal school week. In effect, the School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship is integrated within the student’s senior certificate program.
Students undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship that is not integrated into their school learning program and study timetable, are undertaking a Part-time Apprenticeship or Traineeship. This type of arrangement is no longer considered to be 'school-based' however students will still be able to receive credit toward their VCE or VCAL, when they are enrolled on VASS.
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From 2009, the minimum number of employment and training hours required for a School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship is an average of 13 hours per week, over two years. This will comprise at least seven hours of employment and six hours of training per week which may be averaged over three periods of four months in each year of the program. Training should be averaged over three periods of four months in each year of the training contract. Some students will be released for blocks of training; some will spend more than two days per week in the workplace in paid employment. Whatever arrangement is negotiated by the employer, registered training organisation and student/school, the student will be in employment and/or structured training as an apprentice or trainee for a minimum of one day per school week.
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In order for the training contract to be registered with Skills Victoria as a School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship, a school representative is required to sign the student's training plan to acknowledge that
- the student is enrolled in a senior secondary program (VCE or VCAL) and
- it forms an integral part of the student's learning program and study timetable.
The signature is not an endorsement of the quality of the training nor acceptance of responsibility for the outcome of the Contract of Training. When the school representative signs the Training Plan, the school is undertaking responsibility to enrol the student on Victorian Assessment Software System (VASS) so that credit for the training within the VCE or VCAL can be awarded to the student.
The Training Plan must provide details of the qualification and the units of competence the student will be undertaking and should include a delivery schedule of the training.
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In theory, a student can be enrolled in two or more separate qualifications all being undertaken through School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship arrangements. In practice, however, it would be very difficult for a student to juggle the demands of more than one School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship in combination with his/her VCE or VCAL program. The student would have to be employed in two or more work contexts/workplaces that are relevant to the two or more individual training programs, attend one or more training organisations to undertake the training particular to each qualification, and would have to meet the study requirements and outcomes for the senior secondary certificate in which they are enrolled.
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No, the student can be enrolled in either the VCE or the VCAL. Which qualification a student should enrol in is an individual school/student decision. However, students should be allowed to engage in a School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship within either the VCE or VCAL.
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The home school enrols the student on VASS according to the qualification and units of competence listed in the Training Plan. Schools enter results provided by the Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
For further advice/assistance in enrolling students contact:
Student Records and Results Unit
Tel: (03) 9651 4402 or 1800 653 045
VET Unit
Tel: (03) 9651 4458
VASS Support
Tel: (03) 9651 4482 or 1800 827 721
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Apprenticeship field officers are there to:
- investigate disputes between apprentices/trainees and employers
- support apprentices/trainees who are victims of workplace violence and harassment
- help providers of training and further education to participate in apprenticeships and traineeships
- advise and counsel apprentices/trainees and employers on training and other matters.
Contact details for Apprenticeship Field Officers in your area can be sourced at www.skills.vic.gov.au/apprentices/contact_AFO
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In the industry areas of Business, Community Services, Hospitality, Information Technology and Sport and Recreation a student engaged in a School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship can undertake scored assessment for the purpose of achieving a Study Score. A Study Score can contribute directly to the calculation of the student’s ENTER and can be included in the primary four studies used to calculate the ENTER.
The procedures for scored assessment are the same as for the VCE VET programs in these industry areas. Schools/RTOs are referred to the relevant VCE VET program booklet and companion VCE VET Assessment Guide for details about the training components that make up the scored VCE VET Unit 3–4 sequence and the scored assessment process.
A student undertaking a School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship does not have to undertake scored assessment for the purposes of achieving a contribution to the ENTER. Most School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship students do not undertake scored assessment due to the increased demands of work, structured training and schooling. School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship students will be granted a 10% increment by VTAC (10% of the average of the primary four scaled studies) where a Unit 3–4 sequence has been achieved and where the student does not receive a Study Score for the School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship. Where a School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship student chooses to undertake scored assessment, schools are encouraged to contact the Student Records and Results Unit for enrolment advice.
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Accurate advice to students and parents is critical and is the responsibility of schools, not the responsibility of RTOs or employers. The school is the conduit for information about School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships and credit arrangements in the senior secondary certificates. Schools are encouraged to contact the VCAA VET Unit for clarification and further advice relating to School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships and their relationship with the VCE or VCAL.
Schools are referred to the School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships section of the website for details of specific programs and credit arrangements.
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A pre-apprenticeship is a nationally recognised qualification that provides a stepping stone into employment in the same industry area. A pre-apprenticeship training program prepares the student for entry into a trade based apprenticeship by equipping the student with foundation knowledge and skills.
Some pre-apprenticeships also provide an automatic training and duration credit into the apprenticeship in the same industry area. In these cases, when the student progresses into the apprenticeship the RTO will advise the apprentice and employer of the training credit on the agreed Training Plan. The employer and apprentice will receive written confirmation of the duration credit from Skills Victoria when the Training Contract is registered.
Currently there is a number of VCE VET programs that are pre apprenticeships endorsed by Skills Victoria for training credit:
- 21560VIC Certificate II in Automotive Technology Studies (to be replaced by 22015VIC)
- 21566VIC Certificate II in Engineering Studies (to be replaced by 22019VIC)
- 21278VIC Certificate II in Furnishing (Pre-apprenticeship-Cabinet Making)
- 21393VIC Certificate II in Building and Construction (Bricklaying, Carpentry, Painting and Decorating – Pre apprenticeship)
- ICP20105 Certificate II in Printing and Graphic Arts (General).
Note: The above qualifications are not available as School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships.
Details of any training credit arrangements are outlined in the relevant Industry Guide for Apprenticeships and Traineeships in Victoria