Sign up an apprentice or trainee
Whether you're ready to sign up your apprentice now or need a bit more help to get started, you're in the right place.
On this page
School-based apprenticeships and traineeships provide students aged 15 years or older with valuable employment skills, hands-on industry experience and a nationally recognised qualification, while still completing secondary school qualifications.
School-based apprenticeships and traineeships allow students to:
- Gain real-world experience in a chosen industry while still at school.
- Learn practical, in-demand skills that employers are looking for.
- Earn while they learn with paid, part-time work.
- Work towards a nationally recognised qualification, setting them up for future employment.
- Receive credit towards their final years of schooling.
- Stay future-ready and use the qualification as a stepping stone to continue your education after school.
How it works
- An employer advertises a part-time position that’s suitable for a school-based apprentice or trainee.
- A school student, with parent or guardian consent, applies and attends an interview for the role.
- If the student is successful, the school, parent or guardian, employer, and Registered Training Organisation (RTO) agree on the student’s release day(s) for work and training.
- All parties complete a National Training Contract (NTC). This is a legally binding document that sets out the terms of employment and structured training for the length of the apprenticeship or traineeship.
- The employer either hires the student directly or uses a Group Training Organisation (GTO).
- The employer, school, and RTO work together to develop a training plan that outlines the student’s learning and skills development.
- The employer provides ongoing support and mentoring to help the student gain valuable workplace experience throughout the apprenticeship or traineeship.
Who can apply?
Students can start a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship, if they:
- Are a full-time school student and be at least 15 years old.
- Have approval from their school to take part in school-based training.
- Find an employer who is willing to provide workplace training.
- Have consent from a parent or guardian (if under 18 years old).
Please note that some apprenticeships and traineeships may have extra requirements – feel free to call us on 1300 363 831 to find out more.
Start early, finish ahead
Starting a school-based Australian Apprenticeship can give students a head start in their career. They can potentially shorten a full apprenticeship by one to two years or depending on the qualification, even allowing them to complete a traineeship while still at school. The overall length will depend on the type of apprenticeship or traineeship, the industry and the qualification level.
If you’re a student considering a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship – or if you know someone who is – it’s important to contact Apprenticeship Support Australia early. We can help you explore the opportunities available in your area and guide you through the steps to get started.
How we help employers
Our local dedicated Industry Training Consultants can help with:
- Identifying and mapping the school-based training opportunities within your business.
- Access to our candidate pool and the Skillsroad Jobs Board.
- Leveraging our extensive network of schools and established relationships with teachers and careers advisers.
- Coordinating all parties to ensure successful outcomes of the school-based training.
- Coaching and mentoring to provide ongoing support to the employer, student, and school throughout the process.