08 Jan 2014

What is a school based apprenticeship?

A school based apprenticeship is just like any other apprenticeship, where you study at a TAFE or registered training organisation in your state, and work for an employer in that trade or profession at the same time, while getting a small wage while you’re learning the ropes. The difference is that you can do it all while you’re still in years 11 and 12 at senior high school. This means you can get a head start on your career.

If you would like to find out more about what school based apprenticeships are available, how long they last for and what you will earn, you can read more about apprenticeships here at Year 13, search ‘school based apprenticeships’ on your state government education websites, or ask your career counsellor or advisor at school.

Am I suited to a school based apprenticeship?

If you’re reading about school based apprenticeships, then it probably means you’re already considering beginning a career when you haven’t reached senior high school yet, or have begun year 11 and realised you want to be out there studying and working towards your career now, not later. If you like the idea of finishing year 12 and doing an apprenticeship at the same time to speed things along, and you think you can successfully handle school study, work study and on the job training at the same time, then it looks like this is the way to go for you.

What will I learn?

There are more than 500 different school based apprenticeships available, so it’s hard to be specific about what you will learn in each, but you can be sure you’ll study all the skills of the trade, the tools and equipment used, the technologies and background of that industry, the business management or retail side of things, health and safety on the job, and everything else you need to know all about your trade or profession.
You will need to leave school on a regular set schedule to study at college and work, and you will be required to catch up on whatever you miss of your school studies for the time you’re gone.

How long is it and what is the wage?

How long your apprenticeship will take to successfully finish will be different, depending on what industry trade you’re studying and working in, what work and study options are available to you while you’re still at school, and how quickly and successfully you progress through your course. On average though, it will still take between 2 and 4 years to complete. This means you will begin when you’re in senior high school, and will either finish when you finish school, or continue on after you finish school for another couple of years.
You will get paid at whatever rate of pay is set as the minimum, or standard, or award rate, for that industry, which increases in each year of your apprenticeship. There is an incentive for your employer to hire you in the beginning, and to keep you on when you finish school, if all goes well.

What are my career options and what will I earn?

Once you’ve finished a school based apprenticeship, you have so many choices and opportunities for whatever career you’ve decided on! You can continue working for your employer or a different one as a fully qualified employee and earn yourself good money. There are almost always jobs in whatever career you choose through an apprenticeship. You may want to own your own business, which means you will earn more than you would as an employee. You might decide to specialise in particular areas of your industry, or get into management or more senior roles in your field.

What you will earn changes depending on what career you choose and what position you work in, so it’s best if you check out the average wage or salary for that industry on your state government website. Do any school based apprenticeship and you’ve got it made!