Goulburn Murray LLEN

Changes to School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships

Changes to the workplace based training plan (training plan) for school based apprentices and trainees (SBATs) were approved by the Victorian Skills Commission in October 2008. These changes mean that the distinction between integrated and non-integrated SBATs will no longer exist, as schools will only be required to endorse integrated SBATs.

These changes will impact on a school’s endorsement of a SBAT, as when a principal (or delegate) signs the training plan, they are now indicating

that:

· the student is enrolled in a senior secondary program (VCE or

VCAL); and

· the study, training and work commitments of the student form

an integral part of that student’s school learning program and study timetable.

About the changes

The minimum number of employment and training hours for SBATs is thirteen hours per week

SBATs are to be undertaken by the student over two years at an average of 13 hours per week for employment and training per week. The option of undertaking an SBAT over three years at an average of ten hours per week of employment and training no longer exists.

At least seven hours of employment and six hours of training per week must be undertaken by SBATs

SBAT students must undertake at least 7 hours of employment and 6 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 duration in each year of the training contract.

At least one day during the normal school week must be timetabled to be spent on the job or in training

Schools should only endorse the training program for an SBAT when it forms an integral part of the student’s school learning program and study timetable and when it can be verified that during term time, a student’s timetable indicates that a minimum of one day of the school week during normal schools is spent in employment and/or structured training as an apprentice or trainee.

Students must be undertaking a senior secondary program (VCE or VCAL) to undertake a SBAT

In order for the training contract to be registered with Skills Victoria as an SBAT, a school representative is required to sign the student’s training plan to acknowledge that the student is enrolled in a senior secondary program such as VCE or VCAL and that it forms an integral part of the student’s learning program and study timetable.

Endorsing training plans

Schools should only endorse the training plan for an SBAT if the new SBAT criteria has been met. Endorsement of the training plan by the school will continue to indicate that it 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.

Part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Students who undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship that is not integrated into their learning program and study timetable will be undertaking part-time apprenticeships or traineeships. This type of arrangement will still provide credit for VCE or VCAL if it is recorded on VASS.

Further information

Consultations on this issue were undertaken by both DEECD and Skills Victoria with a range of stakeholders who offered their broad support.

The change will support the implementation of SBATs as a fully integrated learning and career pathway for students and support vocational pathways that are aligned with skill priority areas.

Sample templates of the revised training plans are available from the Department’s website:

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/sensecyouth/qualsprograms/apprentice.htm

and the Skills Victoria website:

http://www.skills.vic.gov.au/industry/recruiting/training/plan

Schools must use the revised training plans for integrated SBATs that commence training and employment from 1 January, 2009.

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