School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBAT)
You can commence an apprenticeship or traineeship while you are at school and receive credit towards your VCE or VCAL. Apprenticeships and traineeships give you the opportunity to combine part-time employment with your VET qualification. Apprenticeships and traineeships combine practical hands-on experience in the workplace with training and assessment from a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
A school-based apprenticeship or traineeship is when you are released from school for a minimum of one day per week to undertake the apprenticeship or traineeship. You will need to complete six hours of training and seven hours of work per week. All apprenticeships and traineeships can provide credit towards your VCE or VCAL. For every 90 hours of training completed, you will receive one unit towards your VCE or VCAL. VCE credit will be determined by the certificate. Most apprenticeships or traineeships in VCE VET program areas provide credit for VCE Units 1 to 4.You will receive a certificate or statement of attainment from your Registered Training Organisation for the VET training you have completed as part of your apprenticeship or traineeship.
School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBAT) provide the best of both worlds for students; you can participate in part-time paid employment while still completing your schooling. SBATs support students to transition from school to further training and education or work. Depending on your SBAT, it can also provide multiple pathways to employment, TAFE and university. Industry can also benefit from school-based apprenticeships because they can help fill skill shortage areas and reduce the amount of time a student spends away from the workplace.
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) states the following about SBATs:
A student may undertake a School-Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship only if the following conditions are met:
- the training scheme is approved by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) for delivery as School-Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship
- the student is 15 years of age or over
- the student is an Australian citizen or a permanent resident
- the student is in relevant employment
- the principal, or principal’s delegate, has signed the training plan and the student is enrolled in a nationally-recognised qualification that can be undertaken as a School-Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship.
Students who undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship that does not satisfy the school-based criteria will be undertaking a ‘part-time apprenticeship or traineeship’. This type of arrangement will still provide credit for VCE or VCAL if it is recorded on the Victorian Assessment Software System (VASS).
VCAA-approved School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships
School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs) typically offer credit at Units 1 to 4 level towards the VCE and all levels of VCAL. Further credit is available in larger qualifications up to a maximum of six units. For the level of credit in the VCE, refer to the Certificate Units of Competency Structure Report on VASS. All nationally recognised qualifications with training schemes approved by the VRQA are also approved by VCAA.