An ASbA is a paid, employment-based training arrangement.

Students in Year 10, 11 or 12 are able to combine work, training and education to gain a nationally recognised qualification, usually at Certificate II or III level – across almost every industry sector and training package.

Australian School-based Apprenticeships

• Work – ASbA students will participate in a minimum of 7.5 hours employment in the workplace each week. This can be one or two days at work in school time or after school hours and on the weekend. There is an expectation that the ASbA student will work additional hours in term breaks.
• Training – ASbA students will sign a Training Plan with the employer and a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) who is responsible for the training and assessment against the requirements of the qualification. ASbA students will be paid for any training in the workplace or off-site.
• Education – ASbA students commit to attending school when timetabled to do so, and studying subjects that that are complementary to the ASbA qualification and contribute to the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE). Every unit of competency achieved over the course of the contract will contribute points to the ASbA student’s TCE.

What are the responsibilities of an ASbA employer?

The employer is obliged to comply with the conditions of the training contract, the Training and Workforce Development Act 2013, and will:

• ensure that ASbA students have a Training Contract approved by Skills Tasmania and is endorsed and supported by their school Principal.
• ensure that the ASbA student has a minimum of 7.5 employment every week during school time, and additional hours in term breaks.
• ensure that the ASbA student is employed under an award or other appropriate industrial agreement. The wage will depend on the ASbA student’s age, industry and qualification.
• ensure there is a Training Plan in place and negotiate with the RTO to ensure the ASbA student regularly receives training and appropriate support towards the ASbA qualification.
• ensure that the hours of work can be flexibly negotiated to best fit with the ASbA student’s school/college timetable, subject selections and exam periods. Our guidelines recommend a maximum late finish time of 10pm for Year 10 students, and possibly later times as individually negotiated with Year 11 and 12 students.

What are the responsibilities of an ASbA employee?

To be a school-based trainee or apprentice, the student/employee will comply with the training contract terms and obligations, including:

• committing to the full term of the training contract.
• enrolment as a year 10, 11 or 12 school student and in subjects that complement the ASbA training and qualification, and that contribute to the attainment of the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE).
• attending school when timetabled to do so, and making the most of the opportunity to gain dual qualifications – both VET (Vocational Education and Training) from the training qualification, and the TCE, from school/college education.
• enrolment with the selected Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and fulfilling their training responsibilities where agreed in the training plan.
• notifying the employer, school or RTO as appropriate of any variation to their school, work or training schedule due to sickness or other personal issues.
• attending regular meetings with a nominated school staff member (ASbA Facilitator) to review progress and discuss any issues regarding school, training or work.

What are the school/college’s responsibilities?

Every school/college will have appointed an ASbA Facilitator who will:

• receive correspondence from the Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP) seeking endorsement for the ASbA opportunity, and manage the administrative and pastoral care responsibilities on behalf of the ASbA student’s school, including timetabling arrangements and negotiating work hours with the employer.
• work out how many points the ASbA training and qualification will contribute to the TCE in Years 11 or 12, and what are the best subjects for the ASbA student to do at the same time.
• organise regular meetings with the ASbA student to identify any issues with regard to attendance and participation, or help resolve or refer any work related concerns to the relevant organisation.
• liaise with the ANP, the RTO, the employer and the DoE ASbA Unit as required to maximise the ASbA students training, learning and employment opportunities and potential.

Who else is involved and how does the process start?

An Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP) will be involved in the very early stages, and is responsible for:

• organising the Training Contract and endorsement paperwork for all stakeholders, including the employer student/parent, RTO and school Principal, and forwards to Skills Tasmania to approve a legally binding and registered Training Contract.
• providing information and assistance to employers, ASbA students and parents, and helping to resolve any workplace related issues that have been identified by the by the employee, employer or school/college.

There are several Apprenticeship Network Providers operating in Tasmania to assist employers with information and process. Contact details for these can be found at: www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au

Staff from the Department for Education, Children and Young People ASbA Unit are also available to answer any questions or concerns students, parents, DoE staff or employers may have about the ASbA qualification and process.

Contact

DoE – Australian School-based Apprenticeships team on + 61 3 6165 5404 or email: asba.admin@decyp.tas.gov.au 

More information

ASbA Booklet for Students 2023 (PDF, 1MB)