What are ASbAs?

Australian School-based Apprenticeships (ASbAs) allow students over 15 years of age to work as paid part-time apprentices or trainees while still at school. ASbAs enable young people to gain a vocational qualification and genuine workplace experience while also completing their school studies. ASBAs are a great applied learning option for VCE or VCAL students in Years 11 and 12, and in some cases available to Year 10 students also. ASbAs prepare students for the world of work and assist employers to attract young employees into their business.

What are the Features and Benefits of ASBAs?

ASBAs that are integrated into a student’s studies (ie. the ASbA is being undertaken wholly or partially during school hours) have a number of features and benefits, including:

• Supported by a Training Contract. Student, parent/s and employer sign a Training Contract,
  which is an agreement detailing the workplace training the employer will provide and the off-the-job
  training to be delivered through a TAFE or registered training organisation.
• Student is paid while working. School-based Apprentices receive a National Training Wage for
  time spent in the workplace (payment is not made for time spent in off-the-job training).
• Flexible working arrangements. Depending on the needs of the student and the employer, work may be undertaken one/two days per week, during weekends, after school and/or during school holidays. School-based Apprentices are required to work a minimum of 8 hours up to a maximum of 15 hours work per week. This can be averaged over the term of the arrangement and during school holidays young people can work a 38 hour week.
• Student receives a vocational qualification. School-based Apprentices receive industry training through a TAFE or another training provider and upon completion receive a Certificate recognised by employers. Once complete, the student may be able to use all or part of the Certificate to gain credits into future studies or a full-time apprenticeship or traineeship.
• Student receives their senior school certificate. School-based Apprentices continue to attend school and work towards completing their VCE or VCAL studies. In some cases ASBA training may contribute to a student’s VCE ENTER score.
• Student receives real workplace experience. School-based Apprentices are employees of a
  business, receiving hands-on workplace experience that is useful for future employment or studies.
• Enhanced employment opportunities. Once the ASbA is completed School-based Apprentices
  may be offered ongoing work with their employer. Alternatively, the young person may use their
  industry-specific and generic workplace skills to source other employment.

What is Applied Learning?

ASbAs are a form of applied learning available to today’s students, other forms include VET in Schools and VCAL programs. Applied learning is more than just ‘hands on’ learning. It includes both theory and practical application, with the link between the two drawn from the learning context. Contextualising learning (eg. a workplace context) empowers and motivates students and assists them to develop skills and knowledge they will need for future education, employment, training and involvement in the community. Applied learning is a legitimate and valued option for students, enabling them to:
• Complete Year 12 or its equivalent
• Gain workplace experience which allows them to make informed vocational choices
• Gain employability skills such as planning, communication, teamwork, and work/study ethics
• Manage their transition from school into employment or further education and training
• Learn and succeed in multiple environments and through varied assessment strategies, emulating
the workplace and further education institutions of today

Where do ASbAs Lead?

Students who complete ASbAs follow many different post-school pathways including employment, fulltime apprenticeships, TAFE training or university studies. ASbAs are beneficial regardless of a young person’s future aspirations, as they support the development of a wide range of skills and attributes that assist students to progress their future employment or study goals.

For more information about ASbAs contact your son or daughter’s Career, VET or VCAL Coordinator or the ASbA contacts list below.

Where to find out more about ASbA’s?

Southern Suburbs Group Training (SSGT)

Southern Suburbs Group Training (SSGT) offer assistance at no cost for secondary students looking to learn more about or obtain an ASbA. For those Students seeking an ASBA, SSGT have a structured Expression of Interest process that requires the student to directly participate in the identification of potentially interested employers. From that point, SSGT offers professional support and services to explain the ASBA employment concept and promote the student to the employer.

As a Group Training Organisation SSGT currently employ secondary students in ASBA’s across southern metropolitan Melbourne and the Peninsula in the following trades/industries:

• Building and Construction Trades
• Horticulture
• Automotive Trades
• Engineering Trades
• Business Administration
• Tourism
• Printing and Graphic Arts

For more information please contact SSGT
Shey Aarts
Phone: 0438 035 784
Email: shey@ssgt.com.au
www.ssgt.com.au

370°

370° traineeships are offering Australian School-based Apprenticeships (ASbA’s).
We currently run ASbA’s in :

• Certificate III in Business Administration
• Certificate III in Information Technology
• Certificate in III Sport & Recreation
• Certificate III in Children’s Services

Interested students need to fill in our ASbA expression of interest form.

For more information please contact 370
Loren Fox
Phone: 9389 9970
Mobile: 0409 184 246
Email: loren.fox@370degrees.com.au
www.370degrees.com.au

MEGT (Australia) Ltd

You can apply to undertake school based apprenticeships/traineeships in the following skill areas through MEGT Group Training

• Business – various office environments, large and small
• Automotive – light vehicle, diesel mechanics
• Retail– sales in various retail outlets
• Engineering– metal fabrication, tool making
• Hospitality– food and beverage, cookery
• Horticulture– nursery, turf management, landscaping, garden maintenance
• Cabinetmaking– assembly work and furniture making.

Just to name a few….

Interested students need to fill in our MEGT ASbA expression of interest form.
For more information please contact MEGT Group Training
Connor Newman
Phone: 0404 824 511
Email: connor_newman@megt.com.au
www.megt.com.au