Start your career journey with a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship
School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs) enable you to work and train towards a recognised qualification, while you complete your Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) or equivalent. Find out more about how SATs can help you accelerate towards your chosen career.
What are the benefits?
A SAT will help you to build practical skills in an adult learning environment, you’ll work alongside skilled professionals or tradespeople, and make a valuable connection with an employer.
SATs are designed to fit around your high school studies and you can earn while you’re working and learning.
Successful completion of a SAT can lead to direct entry to a related TAFE Queensland course (additional entry requirements may apply). It can also contribute to your Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or add credits to your Queensland Certificate of Education (for eligible courses). Your SAT may also lead directly to full-time employment once you have graduated from high school.
Can I undertake a SAT?
Before you start your SAT journey, you need to check your eligibility. You must be enrolled in Years 10, 11 or 12 and there may be other entry requirements depending on your chosen course. It’s important that your school is prepared to support you on your journey as well.
How does the SAT journey begin?
Before you can get started, there are four key stakeholders involved in your school-based apprenticeship or traineeship: your school, your employer, the Queensland government (DESBT) and your supervising registered training organisation (TAFE Queensland).
- School: You'll need to gain approval from your school. They will work with your employer (or GTO) and TAFE Queensland to create your training schedule. In order to fit your SAT around your school studies, some of your paid employment and/or training will become part of your school timetable.
- Employer: Once you've chosen your course, you will need to find an employer you can complete your apprenticeship or traineeship through. An employer can be found through your family or friends, by contacting businesses directly, using internet job search engines such as Seek, or going through a Group Training Organisation (GTO). A GTO will help you arrange your training and place you with a number of different host employers (instead of just one) where you will gain your on-the-job skills.
- Queensland Government: They oversee the funding and compliance of your SAT.
- TAFE Queensland: TAFE Queensland is your Supervising Registered Training Organisation and will help provide you with the knowledge, skills and training to drive you towards your career destination.
How much will I earn during a SAT?
One of the best parts about the SAT journey is that you will get paid to gain the skills and experience to hit top gear in your future career.
As a school-based trainee or apprentice, your employer pays your wages while also paying for your education and training. How much you'll get paid will vary depending on the award you're employed under. You must be paid at least the minimum wage for your award for any time spent working for your employer.
What SATs are available with TAFE Queensland?
TAFE Queensland offer training for SATs in a wide variety of careers. From aged care and allied health, beauty and hairdressing, community services to hospitality and cookery. You can also get hands-on experience in trade careers such as civil construction, automotive and engineering. Check out a list of courses available below. Interested in course that isn’t listed? Most certificate programs are able to be completed as a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship. Talk to our team to find out more.
- FBP30321 - Certificate III in Cake and Pastry
- FBP30421 - Certificate III in Bread Baking
- FBP30521 - Certificate III in Baking
- SHB20121 - Certificate II in Retail Cosmetics
- SHB20216 - Certificate II in Salon Assistant
- SHB30121 - Certificate III in Beauty Services
- SHB30321 - Certificate III in Nail Technology
- SHB30416 - Certificate III in Hairdressing
- SHB30516 - Certificate III in Barbering
- SBH50121 - Diploma of Beauty Therapy
- SIT20322 - Certificate II in Hospitality
- SIT20421 - Certificate II in Cookery
- SIT30616 - Certificate III in Hospitality
- SIT30816 - Certificate III in Commercial Cookery
- AMP30316 - Certificate III in Meat Processing (Meat Safety)
- AUR21220 - Certificate II in Automotive Underbody Technology (General Underbody Repair)
- AUR30320 - Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology
- AUR30420 - Certificate III in Agricultural Mechanical Technology
- AUR30620 - Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology
- AUR31120 - Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology
- CPC30220 - Certificate III in Carpentry
- CPC32420 - Certificate III in Plumbing
- MEM20105 - Certificate II in Engineering
- MEM30219 - Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade (Maintenance) Diesel Fitting pathway
- MEM30219 - Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade (Maintenance) Fitting/Turning pathway
- MEM30319 - Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade (Boilermaking/Welding)
- MEM30319 - Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade (Sheetmetal pathway)
- MEM30319 - Certificate III in Engineering - Technical
- MEM31419 - Certificate III in Engineering - Fixed and Mobile Plant Mechanic
- RII20720 - Certificate II in Civil Construction
- RII30820 - Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations
- TLI30321 - Certificate III in Supply Chain Operations
- UEE30820 - Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician
If you prefer hands-on learning and don't want to wait until you finish school to get started in your chosen career, a school-based traineeship could be your best next step.
For school-based trainee Tahlia Livingstone, working one day a week in aged care is a pathway to her dream career - nursing.
From a school-based traineeship in agriculture to a Certificate II in Animal Studies (ACM20117), Dusty was able to muster his future career with the range of TAFE at School options available through TAFE Queensland.