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A school-based apprenticeship or
traineeship arrangement combines part-time work, structured
training with a registered training organisation (RTO) and
school studies. A school-based apprenticeship may give students
credit towards their Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or
Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL).
From 2009, a School Based Apprenticeship
or Traineeship refers to an arrangement whereby a student
enrolled in a senior secondary certificate (VCE or VCAL) is also
released from the weekly school timetable to attend the training
organisation and/or workplace, during the normal school week. In
effect, the School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship is
integrated within the student’s senior certificate program.
Students undertaking an apprenticeship or
traineeship that is not integrated into their
school learning program and study timetable, are undertaking a
Part-time Apprenticeship or Traineeship. This type of
arrangement is no longer considered to be 'school-based'
however students will still be able to receive credit toward
their VCE or VCAL, when they are enrolled on VASS.
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From 2009, the minimum number of
employment and training hours required for a School Based
Apprenticeship and Traineeship is an average of 13 hours per
week, over two years. This will comprise at least seven hours of
employment and six hours of training per week which may be
averaged over three periods of four months in each year of the
program. Training should be averaged over three periods of four
months in each year of the training contract. Some students will
be released for blocks of training; some will spend more than
two days per week in the workplace in paid employment. Whatever
arrangement is negotiated by the employer, registered training
organisation and student/school, the student will be in
employment and/or structured training as an apprentice or
trainee for a minimum of one day per school
week.
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In order for the training contract
to be registered with Skills Victoria as a School Based
Apprenticeship or Traineeship, a school representative is
required to sign the student's training plan to acknowledge
that
- the student is enrolled in a senior secondary program
(VCE or VCAL) and
- it forms an integral part of the student's learning
program and study timetable.
The signature is not an endorsement of
the quality of the training nor acceptance of responsibility for
the outcome of the Contract of Training. When the school
representative signs the Training Plan, the school is
undertaking responsibility to enrol the student on Victorian
Assessment Software System (VASS) so that credit for the
training within the VCE or VCAL can be awarded to the student.
The Training Plan must provide details of
the qualification and the units of competence the student will
be undertaking and should include a delivery schedule of the
training.
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In theory, a student can be
enrolled in two or more separate qualifications all being
undertaken through School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship
arrangements. In practice, however, it would be very difficult
for a student to juggle the demands of more than one School
Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship in combination with his/her
VCE or VCAL program. The student would have to be employed in
two or more work contexts/workplaces that are relevant to the
two or more individual training programs, attend one or more
training organisations to undertake the training particular to
each qualification, and would have to meet the study
requirements and outcomes for the senior secondary certificate
in which they are enrolled.
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No, the student can be enrolled in
either the VCE or the VCAL. Which qualification a student should
enrol in is an individual school/student decision. However,
students should be allowed to engage in a School Based
Apprenticeship or Traineeship within either the VCE or VCAL.
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The home school enrols the student on
VASS according to the qualification and units of competence
listed in the Training Plan. Schools enter results provided by
the Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
For further advice/assistance in
enrolling students contact:
Student Records and Results Unit
Tel: (03) 9651 4402 or 1800 653 045
VET Unit
Tel: (03) 9651 4458
VASS Support
Tel: (03) 9651 4482 or 1800 827 721
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Apprenticeship field officers are there
to:
- investigate disputes between apprentices/trainees and
employers
- support apprentices/trainees who are victims of
workplace violence and harassment
- help providers of training and further education to
participate in apprenticeships and traineeships
- advise and counsel apprentices/trainees and employers on
training and other matters.
Contact details for Apprenticeship Field
Officers in your area can be sourced at
www.skills.vic.gov.au/apprentices/contact_AFO
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In the industry areas of Business,
Community Services, Hospitality, Information Technology and
Sport and Recreation a student engaged in a School Based
Apprenticeship and Traineeship can undertake scored assessment
for the purpose of achieving a Study Score. A Study Score can
contribute directly to the calculation of the student’s ENTER
and can be included in the primary four studies used to
calculate the ENTER.
The procedures for scored assessment are
the same as for the VCE VET programs in these industry areas.
Schools/RTOs are referred to the relevant VCE VET program
booklet and companion VCE VET Assessment Guide for details about
the training components that make up the scored VCE VET Unit 3–4
sequence and the scored assessment process.
A student undertaking a School
Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship does not have to undertake
scored assessment for the purposes of achieving a contribution
to the ENTER. Most School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship
students do not undertake scored assessment due to the increased
demands of work, structured training and schooling. School Based
Apprenticeship and Traineeship students will be granted a 10%
increment by VTAC (10% of the average of the primary four scaled
studies) where a Unit 3–4 sequence has been achieved and where
the student does not receive a Study Score for the School Based
Apprenticeship or Traineeship. Where a School Based
Apprenticeship or Traineeship student chooses to undertake
scored assessment, schools are encouraged to contact the Student
Records and Results Unit for enrolment advice.
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Accurate advice to students and parents is critical and is
the responsibility of schools, not the responsibility of RTOs or
employers. The school is the conduit for information about
School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships and credit
arrangements in the senior secondary certificates. Schools are
encouraged to contact the VCAA VET Unit for clarification and
further advice relating to School Based Apprenticeships and
Traineeships and their relationship with the VCE or VCAL.
Schools are referred to the
School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships section of the
website for details of specific programs and credit
arrangements.
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A pre-apprenticeship is a nationally
recognised qualification that provides a stepping stone into
employment in the same industry area. A pre-apprenticeship
training program prepares the student for entry into a trade
based apprenticeship by equipping the student with foundation
knowledge and skills.
Some pre-apprenticeships also provide an
automatic training and duration credit into the apprenticeship
in the same industry area. In these cases, when the student
progresses into the apprenticeship the RTO will advise the
apprentice and employer of the training credit on the agreed
Training Plan. The employer and apprentice will receive written
confirmation of the duration credit from Skills Victoria when
the Training Contract is registered.
Currently there is a number of VCE VET
programs that are pre apprenticeships endorsed by Skills
Victoria for training credit:
- 21560VIC Certificate II in Automotive Technology Studies
- 21566VIC Certificate II in Engineering Studies
- 21278VIC Certificate II in Furnishing
(Pre-apprenticeship-Cabinet Making)
- 21393VIC Certificate II in Building and Construction
(Bricklaying, Carpentry, Painting and Decorating – Pre
apprenticeship)
- ICP20105 Certificate II in Printing and Graphic Arts
(General).
Note: The above
qualifications are not available as School Based Apprenticeships
and Traineeships.
Details of any training credit
arrangements are outlined in the relevant
Industry Guide for Apprenticeships and Traineeships in Victoria |
