Did you know?

• Our schools provide every young person with education opportunities to help them to achieve their plans for work and life.
• Young people need to stay in education or training until they finish Year 12, or receive a Certificate III, or reach the new minimum leaving age of 18.
• After Year 10, a young person can choose any of the following education and training options, or a combination of these options if the provider/s allow:
  • Years 11 and 12 at any government or non-government school or college, or tertiary provider – this may include an Australian School-based Apprenticeship
  • a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification through any registered training organisation
  • an apprenticeship or traineeship with an employer.
• Young people with full-time employment, or other specific circumstances, can apply for an exemption to allow them to leave education and training.

Can my senior secondary age child undertake paid employment while completing education and training?

• A young person can undertake paid employment outside of their education and training attendance hours. Generally there is no minimum age to start casual or part-time work in Tasmania but there are age restrictions for certain types of work. Contact Work Safe Tasmania for more information.
• A young person who has completed Year 10 can undertake paid employment with an apprenticeship or traineeship under a training contract, including an Australian School-based Apprenticeship (see below), as one of the education and training participation options.
• A young person who hasn’t met the school leaving requirements (detailed above), is not able to work for an employer during their education and training hours, unless an Application for Part-time Attendance or Application for Exemption from Attending School is completed and approved in advance.

Can my senior secondary age child leave education and training to undertake employment?

• If a young person hasn’t met the school leaving requirements, they need to demonstrate they have secured full-time employment using the Application for Exemption from Attending School in advance of leaving education and training to undertake employment. From 2020, full-time employment is a minimum of 35 hours a week of work.
• If a young person who is 17 years old or older and plans to undertake part-time study and employment they need to complete and have approved an Application for Part-time Attendance showing it is in their best interests.
• As an apprenticeship/traineeship is one of the education and training options following completion of Year 10, young people do not need to complete an Application for Exemption from Attending School to undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship under a training contract.

What is an Australian School-based Apprenticeship?

• An Australian School-based Apprenticeship (ASbA) is a paid, employment-based training arrangement where a student undertakes an apprenticeship/traineeship while also continuing their school/college education.
• ASbAs are opportunities for students in Year 10, 11 or 12 to combine work, training and education to gain a nationally recognised industry qualification, usually at Certificate II or III level.
• For more information, see the parent fact sheet Australian School-based Apprenticeships in Tasmanian Government Schools.

How do schools prepare students for future employment?

• My Education is a whole-school approach to career and life planning, starting in Kindergarten and continuing through to Year 12.
• Through My Education young people are supported to identify their personal interests, values, strengths, opportunities and aspirations, and how to use this knowledge to make decisions about their future learning, work and life opportunities.
• In their senior secondary education, Years 11 and 12 students are required to undertake 50 hours of My Education. This can be taught through Career and Life Planning 2. Some aspects may also be taught through Pathways to Work 1, Work Readiness 2 and Project Implementation 2.

What work exposure opportunities are available?

• Schools and colleges offer a variety of work exposure and career taster opportunities to help students develop an understanding of workplaces and the career options available.

Where can I get more information?

• Your child’s school or college would welcome the opportunity to talk to you about your child and the kind of work they may be interested in, and how they can support and encourage your child’s aspirations.