Training contacts

Telephone 1300 369 935
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Apprenticeships Info
Telephone 1800 210 210
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Queensland Training Ombudsman
Telephone 1800 773 048
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Frequently asked questions for apprentices and trainees and employers may also apply to school-based apprentices and trainees and their employers.

How can students and employers connect?

The Getting started page lists some tips and websites to assist students and employers. Employers should consider contacting their local high schools to connect with:

  • students who may be interested in a SAT
  • recent graduates
  • potential school-industry partnerships.

What's the difference between a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship and part-time apprenticeship or traineeship?

SATs are undertaken as part of a student's high school studies. A school-based apprentice or trainee's school timetable must reflect a combination of work, training and school studies, meaning that the work and/or training must impact on the school timetable.

A part-time apprenticeship or traineeship can be taken on by adults, or school students (where all work and training occurs outside school hours). There would be no involvement of the school in a part-time apprenticeship or traineeship arrangement.

Is there a minimum age requirement to commence a SAT?

Entry into a SAT is generally available to students in Years 10, 11 and 12. However, there are some apprenticeship and traineeship qualifications that have minimum age requirements as specified in relevant legislation (e.g. electrical). Information on age restrictions can be found on the specific apprenticeship or traineeship on the Queensland Training Information Service (QTIS) website.

Entry into SATs for students in Year 9 or below are on a case-by-case basis and require a business case. Information about business cases can be found on the Guide to school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (PDF, 330 KB).

How often does a student attend work and training as part of their SAT?

Each student will negotiate with their employer, training organisation and school, the days that they will attend work, training and school. This will be different for each student.

The SAT must make an impact on the student's school timetable.

The ATIS-026 School-based apprenticeships and traineeships information sheet has further details about minimum work requirements and off-the-job training limits.

What happens if the student hasn't finished their SAT when they graduate school?

Many students will not complete their SAT by the time they finish school. These students will be required to convert their apprenticeship or traineeship to full-time or part-time arrangements to allow them to complete the qualification. Once converted, appropriate award wages and conditions apply.

Conversion is an automatic process executed by the department. The school-based apprentice or trainee and their employer will receive a letter advising that on the day following the student's last day of school, the contract will be converted to full-time.

What happens if a school-based apprentice or trainee is suspended or expelled from school?

School-based apprentices and trainees suspended from school remain as students and may continue their apprenticeship or traineeship under school-based arrangements. This suspension should not interfere with the school-based apprentice or trainee's existing training and/or employment schedule.

School-based apprentices and trainees expelled from school are no longer students, and therefore cannot remain in their apprenticeship or traineeship. It is acknowledged that some expelled students may be able to re-enrol in other schools and with the school's agreement may recommence the school-based arrangement.

However, for the period of time the apprentice or trainee is not enrolled at school, he/she is either a full-time or part-time apprentice or trainee and their paid working hours need to be adjusted accordingly. In other cases, expelled students forfeit that eligibility and must convert to either full-time or part-time employment or training arrangements. In both cases, an amendment to the training contract is required.

Last updated 27 November 2018

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