Is An Apprenticeship For My Child?

As a parent/carer it’s only natural to concern ourselves with the possibilities for our child’s future. With many pathways available to today’s young people, it is worth equipping ourselves with as much knowledge as possible about apprenticeships and traineeships and their benefits. And then, what about school-based apprenticeships/traineeships? Should we encourage our children to commence one before leaving school? How could this fit in with my child’s senior education? Should my child complete Year 12? Luckily, the Australian Apprenticeships website (https://www.apprenticeships.gov.au/about-apprenticeships/types-apprenticeships) has valuable information on the following:

What's the difference between an Apprenticeship and Traineeship?
Australian Apprenticeships
- What qualification will I get?
- How much does it cost and will I be paid?
- What should I do before starting an apprenticeship?
Australian School-based Apprenticeships
- How does it work?
- Will be paid and how much will I earn?
- What hours will I work?
- How do I get started?
Pre-Apprenticeships
- How long will it take?
- What qualification will I get?
- Does it cost anything?
- Will I get paid?
- Benefits of a pre-apprenticeship.
- How do I get started?

Furthermore, the Queensland Government has information to help young people find an apprenticeship or traineeship that suits their interests and skills:

A-Z of apprenticeships - https://qtis.training.qld.gov.au/Apprenticeship
A-Z of traineeships - https://qtis.training.qld.gov.au/Traineeship

Once an apprenticeship or traineeship is decided on, finding an employer is the next task. A training contract will then need to be signed before commencing with a training organisation. Click here to get started as an apprentice or trainee - https://www.qld.gov.au/education/apprenticeships/about/get-started.

Please let me know if I can be of any assistance in deciding whether or not an apprenticeship or traineeship is right for your child.

Certificate 2 in Resource and Infrastructure Work Preparation

Congratulations to Year 12 student Rylan Srhoj who was recently recognised by the training organisation Australasian Drilling Institute for his focussed and conscientious effort as he completed this VETiS-funded course alongside his regular senior subjects.

The course is one of many that is funded by the Queensland Government’s Department of Employment, Small Business and Training under their VET in Schools (VETiS) program. The program covers training fees for VET courses that are aligned to jobs and skills in demand, putting secondary school students on a path to employment and further VET opportunities.

At St Stephen’s Catholic College, students across Years 10, 11 and 12 can access such courses via a variety of means:

TAFE At School courses for Year 11 and 12 students,
As part of Year 11/12 subjects – Cert 2 Hospitality (Mi Haven), Cert 2 Sport and Rec (CQU),
Other independent registered training organisations (RTOs) – eg: Cert 2 Animal Care, Cert 2 Health Support Services.

In all of the above cases, these Certificate 2 courses can be completed in place of a school subject and provide students with valuable transferable skills and knowledge for entry into the workforce. NB – while VETiS funding can be accessed in Years 10 – 12, my experience is that there are more options when used in Years 11 and 12.

Is An Early Start At University For Me?

Central Queensland University (CQU) offers students in Years 10, 11 and 12 the chance to take on the challenge of tertiary level study while still completing their regular senior secondary study.

The Start Uni Now (SUN) program is for capable students looking to get a sneak peek at university-level subjects. Students can complete subjects/units from a chosen degree giving them a head start on their studies. Upon successful completion, students could then be eligible for direct entry into a chosen course and gain credit towards a degree. This can save students some of the stress of relying heavily on an ATAR score. More information can be found at: https://www.cqu.edu.au/study/entry-pathways/start-uni-now.

Please be sure to carefully consider all factors before applying to the SUN program, for example: cost, commitment required, balancing regular school studies, etc, and talk to me or Mr Vaughan about your intentions.

Please let me know how I can be of help with any of the above information.

Mr Paul MacCallum | Pathways Officer

pmaccallum@cns.catholic.edu.au

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