ASBA

Australian School Based Apprenticeships

Australian School-based Apprenticeships (ASBAs), also known as school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, are like any apprenticeship or traineeship, but commenced part-time as part of a students secondary schooling. The student will earn a wage, train with an employer, and work towards an accredited VET qualification while completing their SACE.

ASBAs are a career pathway to learn new things, gain employment experience and get a head start in a career. It is possible to become a qualified tradesperson, a financial adviser or real estate agent by 21 if a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship is started early enough.

ASBAs allow students to start working on an apprenticeship or traineeship from Year 10. Students working on an ASBA can:

continue to go to school and study for their SACE
count study and placements related to VET toward their SACE
work towards a nationally recognised VET qualification through a RTO
undertake paid part-time work
convert their ASBA to a full-time apprenticeship after they have completed the compulsory part of their SACE

How to obtain an ASBA

The initial ASBA is proposed between the employer and student. This may come about from current employment, work experience or a job advertisement. Once the idea of an apprenticeship has been agreed upon, 3 more parties need to be brought into the agreement; the School, the RTO and the Network Provider.

The Network Provider

This is the best place to start organising an ASBA is with a Network Provider. There are 2 in Mt Gambier; MEGT and Mas National. It is the role of the Network Provider to set up the ASBA between all parties, informing each party of their obligation. They work closely with parents, schools and RTOs to ensure the training contract and training plan are created.

The School

When a students ASBA takes time away from attending school, the school will want to meet with all parties to ensure the student is on track for completing their SACE. In the meeting the students attendance days at school, work and training will be established as well as what school subjects will be studied. This meeting usually only takes 10 minutes with successful outcomes for all established.

When a students ASBA doesn't take any time away from attending school then the training contract is simply signed and returned to the Network Provider without requiring a meeting.

The RTO

Together with the Network Provider and Employer, the RTO creates and delivers a training plan for the student to undertake their VET training towards their trade. The plan will outline all the units to be studied, including where and when. It is ideal that a copy of the training plan also be given to the school to help determine when successful completion of SACE will occur.

Parent or Caregiver

A parent or caregiver will need to sign the legal paperwork on the students behalf if they are under 18. The key documents that will be signed are the training contract and training plan. They will also need to be present for all meetings regarding the ASBA.

Tips to landing that ASBA

Its a big transition for students from school to employment, however it's the students that can demonstrate they have the skills to successfully make this transition that land the apprenticeships. ASBAs are competitive so it's important to stand out from the crowd. Employability skills are transferable, so any employment will help develop the skills required for an ASBA.

Work Experience goes a long way towards landing an apprenticeship. Work Experience gives the student the opportunity to demonstrate their employability skills. This includes organisation, communication, collaboration, following instructions, initiative, problem solving, work ethic and presentation to name a few. It also gives the employer a chance to take a measure of the student to determine if they're the right fit for their business.

The initial meeting is a critical moment to get right. Students need to demonstrate that they are serious about working for the business. Before meeting the employer for the first time, consider how to dress, what shoes to wear and how to cut/wear your hair. Professional neat and tidy dress code is always appropriate. At that first meeting be sure to shake hands, make eye contact, speak clearly, be proactive and positive and have a strong skills based resume ready to present. Basically 'dot your Is and cross your Ts'.

Explore ASBA related websites

SA.GOV.AU - ASBAs

Australian Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship Pathways

GTE Mt Gambier

Apprenticeship Network Providers

MAS National

MEGT

Examples of how ASBAs can work for everyone

Career Pathway in Dentistry

A student that may wish to study dentistry can undertake a traineeship as a dental assistant for a year prior to going off to study at university. This gives the trainee the opportunity to begin study in their chosen field whilst earning a wage and gaining first hand experience of the industry. It also assists the student in gaining independent youth allowance status with Centrelink for their future university study.

Career Pathway in Plumbing

A student that may wish to be a plumber can start their trade in Year 11. The student can work part time as an apprentice plumber, study their compulsory SACE subjects part time and undertake VET training in their plumbing trade. A common set up is 2 days work, 2 days at school and 1 day for VET training. When the student has completed the compulsory part of their SACE they can convert the apprenticeship to full time, effectively leaving school at the end of Year 11. When they have completed enough units of their VET training to obtain their SACE they will successfully graduate from high school. This usually occurs within the same time frame as their peers.

Career Pathway in Retail

A student already employed can undertake a retail traineeship from Year 10 onward. They will work and conduct their VET training outside the hours of school, within their hours of employment. This gives students the advantage of a qualification in retail that can also count towards their SACE.

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