School Based Apprenticeships or Traineeships (SBAT)
What are school-based apprenticeships and traineeships?
School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs) provide an opportunity for students to work with an employer and train in a qualification while they are still at school. With a SBAT students will go to school and, with the school’s approval, the student (and a guardian if under 18) sign a training contract with an employer in a chosen industry. This gives students the same employment and training conditions and responsibilities as other apprentices/trainees, and the employer will pay for the time students spend at work. Students may do some of their training at a registered training organisation (RTO) such as a TAFE or private training provider and some at work. Students may complete the traineeship while at school, but most apprenticeships will be completed after students leave school. When students do a SBAT, they will work and train on the job with your employer and may also train at a RTO for one or two days a week, spending the other days at school completing their Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE).
What school-based apprenticeships and traineeships are available?
SBAT qualifications are mostly at Certificate II and III level. They are supported by industry and are listed on the Department of Training and Workforce Development’s list of prescribed vocational education and training qualifications (the public register). SBATs are available in a number of industries including manufacturing, electrical, construction, health, engineering, automotive, sport, hospitality, business, primary and food industries.
​
What will students get from a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship program?
When students do a SBAT, they will:
• receive credit towards your WACE for a completed certificate II or III
traineeship or a partially completed
Certificate III apprenticeship or traineeship;
• be paid for the time spent working; and
• have an industry approved pathway to further study or a job.
Who can do a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship?
To do an SBAT, students need to:
• be a full time school student enrolled in a government or non-government
school as defined in the School Education Act 1999;
• be aged 15 years or more;
• be undertaking an approved SBAT;
• have a registered training contract with an employer;
• be an Australian citizen or hold a visa that is consistent with the employment
and study requirements of the
training contract.
• when the SBAT is fully completed, students can have the SBAT recognised
on WACE
Note: SBATs under 18 years of age require the signature of a parent/guardian on the training contract.
