A NEW WAY OF DOING – SCHOOL BASED APPRENTICESHIPS AND TRAINEESHIPS IN TASMANIA and the TASMANIAN CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION (TCE)

An enormous and successful start to 2022 with several students (more to come) obtaining either School-based Apprenticeships or Traineeships.  

Our students have committed to contractual obligations with their employer, training provider and our school. It will be part of the sign-up process for all contracts, which gives students and parents/guardians the opportunity to ask many questions. We are doing things a bit differently from this year onwards, providing mentoring support and on-going communications with all stakeholders as part of a bigger State picture.   

Furthermore, training contracts will be a big part of the overall conversations, including units completed while at school, what the qualification looks like once students complete their TCE, what points will be obtained while at school, and how much of this will/can contribute towards the TCE, should the qualification not be completed.   

Tasmania has seen huge growth in apprenticeships and traineeships in the last 12 months, which can benefit students looking to pursue a career pathway into a specific profession.  In 2023, training packages and the VET system is looking at simplifying certificates to ensure that all stakeholders are delivering and providing units of competencies (that make up a qualification) that are relevant and connected to job outcomes at local and state levels.  As new policies and directives become segmented in the system, they will be communicated via the Marist Star.   

VET Introductory courses in Year 10 gives students the opportunity to choose a VET course as an elective, gain points towards the TCE, and most importantly, allows students opportunities to develop professional skills, knowledge and employability skills to help with preparing them for work post-secondary education.  Many students continue with full qualifications at Years 11 and/or 12. All qualifications at the College are delivered at Certificate II levels in Senior College.  This is to ensure that students can meet VET obligations and the volume of hours (of delivery) over a two-year period (including work placement where applicable).  It also allows students to enter the workforce without employers needing to pay a higher wage at a Certificate III level.  The benefits contribute to students being employable and entering a workforce with a limited number of skills and knowledge that are transferable to many different workplaces.  

If anyone would like to discuss anything further about their child’s pathways into a School-Based Apprenticeship (SbA) or Traineeship, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

 Thank you 

Miss Jen Reeves  

VET Coordinator 

Australian School-Based Apprenticeship & Traineeship Facilitator