School-based apprenticeships and traineeships

School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBA/Ts) are more than just part-time jobs. They are a great way for students to set themselves up for the career they want while completing their HSC. Opportunities are available across a wide range of occupations.

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has responsibility for developing/endorsing curriculum to provide for apprenticeship and traineeship pathways within the HSC.

Students undertaking an HSC VET course as part of a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SBA/T) have the opportunity to achieve a nationally-recognised VET qualification as well as their HSC, and gain valuable work skills and experience through paid employment.

Read information about provision for school-based apprentices and trainees within the HSC.

Information on requirements and arrangements for NSW school-based apprenticeships and traineeships is available on the NSW government’s Apprentices and trainees website.

The School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships in NSW website provide access to a range of information regarding SBA/Ts for students and parents and registered training organisations (RTOs) and employers. This includes guidelines, checklists, roles and responsibilities, resources and contacts.

HSC VET courses for SBA/Ts

SBA/Ts must study the relevant HSC VET course (formal learning/off-the-job training) which will contribute HSC unit credit towards the 22 units required for the HSC.

For a SBA/T to commence there must be an HSC Board Developed (Industry Curriculum Framework) or VET Board Endorsed course (VET BEC) available.

A training plan for a SBA/T must meet HSC VET course requirements to provide unit credit towards the HSC. During the development of a training plan, RTOs and schools/colleges must check the training plan against the appropriate Framework syllabus or VET BEC course description.

If the SBA/T qualification pathway is not available through an existing course, an Application for a NEW Stage 6 VET Board Endorsed course for school-based apprentices/trainees will need to be submitted by the school/college through the school system/sector to NESA for consideration for endorsement.

SBA/Ts may also elect to undertake the Industry-based Learning course for additional HSC credit for the learning undertaken during their paid employment (on-the-job training).

Adding units of competency to HSC VET courses for SBA/Ts

Where units of competency planned for inclusion in the training plan for a SBA/T are not listed in the relevant HSC VET course, a request for units of competency to be considered for inclusion can be made to NESA through the school system/sector. This should occur while the training plan is being drafted and prior to signing.

Any questions about HSC VET courses for SBA/Ts contact the VET team at NESA on (02) 9367 8310.

VET course mapping tool for SBA/T

The mapping tool can be used by schools/colleges and RTOs to:

• map the school-based training component of a student’s training plan into an HSC VET course(s)
• help principals certify that the training plan can be packaged into appropriate HSC VET course(s).

The VET course mapping tool is a blank template that can be used for any qualification being undertaken by a SBA/T through a VET Framework or Board Endorsed course.

Industry-based Learning

This Board Endorsed course is only available to students with an approved SBA/T training contract, and who are also entered for the appropriate HSC VET course for the formal learning/off-the-job training component of their SBA/T.

The course enables students to demonstrate the additional knowledge, understandings, skills, values and attitudes they develop from the on-the-job training component of their SBA/T.

• Industry-based Learning Stage 6 Course Description (PDF 196 KB)

A support document and templates were developed to assist initial implementation of this course:

• Support document (PDF 395 KB)
• Student log template (Word 26 KB)
• Student journal template (Word 27 KB)
• Assessment schedule template (Word 20 KB)
• Schedule of meetings with supervising teacher template (Word 21 KB)

Commencing a SBA/T in Year 10 (Stage 5)

The minimum year level to commence a SBA/T is Year 10. A student commencing their SBA/T in Year 10 must meet NESA requirements for Year 10 while concurrently starting their HSC.

For a student to commence an SBA/T in Year 10 they must first seek approval from the relevant school system/sector and school/principal. This is to ensure NESA requirements are considered in the planning stages of the SBA/T.

Schools/colleges, RTOs and employers must take into account a range of factors when initiating a Year 10 SBA/T commencement. Refer to the School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship in NSW Guidelines and Guidelines for access to VET courses by students in Years 9 and 10.