How Do I Get a School-Based Apprenticeship?
Students in Years 10, 11 and 12 can apply for a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship through a Group Training Organisation like MIGAS or directly with an employer. The process involves your school, your parents or guardian, and the business you will be working with. MIGAS can manage the coordination between all parties on your behalf.
What is a School-Based Apprenticeship?
A school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (sometimes referred to as an ASbA or SBATs) allows secondary school students to begin a formal Australian Apprenticeship while still completing their Year 10, 11 or 12 studies.
Rather than attending school five days a week, you typically spend one day a week working with your host employer in a real workplace, earning a wage and working toward a nationally recognised qualification. You will also have scheduled off-the-job training with a Registered Training Organisation, usually a TAFE, as part of your program.
It is a genuine apprenticeship or traineeship, not work experience. You are employed, paid and training toward a real qualification from day one.
What Qualifications Can You Do?
School-based apprenticeships and traineeships are available across a broad range of trade and vocational areas. These include fabrication and mechanical engineering, electrical, automotive, construction trade apprenticeships, as well as business administration and a range of other traineeships.
Most school-based qualifications lead to a Certificate II or III. In some cases, completing a school-based apprenticeship can count toward the duration of a full-time apprenticeship once you finish school, meaning you effectively get a head start on your trade qualification before you have even left the classroom.
Why Consider a School-Based Apprenticeship?
Starting your apprenticeship or traineeship while still at school gives you several advantages over candidates who wait until after they finish Year 12.
By the time you complete school, you will already have workplace experience, a developing relationship with your employer and a partial or complete qualification behind you. This puts you in a significantly stronger position than other school leavers who are starting from scratch when it comes to securing a full-time apprenticeship role.
Even if you decide not to continue with the same employer or the same trade after finishing school, the qualification and experience you have gained are yours to keep and will remain relevant throughout your career.
How to Get Started
Step 1: Talk to your parent or guardian
If you are under 18, you will need parental or guardian consent to enter into a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship. This is a legal requirement, not just a formality. Starting a school-based qualification is also a significant time commitment alongside your studies, so it is an important conversation to have early.
Talk through what is involved, including the one day per week at work, the TAFE component and the impact on your school schedule, so that everyone understands what you are committing to.
Step 2: Talk to your school career counsellor or teacher
Your school career counsellor is a good first point of contact. Some schools already have established relationships with MIGAS or other apprenticeship providers and may be able to connect you directly with available positions.
Any school-based apprenticeship or traineeship must be organised in agreement with your school, so keeping your school informed and involved from the start is essential.
Step 3: Contact MIGAS
If your school does not have an established program or you want to explore what is available, contact MIGAS directly. We can talk you through the trades and vocational areas we currently have positions in, help you understand whether a school-based arrangement is feasible in your location, and manage the coordination with your school and the host employer on your behalf.
You can also browse the MIGAS Jobs Board for current school-based positions in your area.
Step 4: Apply for a position
Once you have identified a suitable opportunity, you will go through the standard application process. This typically includes submitting a resume, completing aptitude testing and attending an interview with the employer.
Prepare for this process the same way you would for any job application. Research the trade, think about why you are interested in it, and be ready to talk about what you hope to get out of the experience.
A genuine, well-prepared candidate makes a strong impression regardless of age or experience level.
What Happens After You Finish School?
For many school-based apprentices, finishing Year 12 is the point at which their apprenticeship transitions to full-time. If you have performed well and built a good relationship with your host employer, transitioning into a full-time role with the same business is a natural next step.
In some trades, the time you have already served as a school-based apprentice counts toward the total duration of your full-time apprenticeship, which means you could complete your qualification earlier than someone who started from scratch after school.
Even if a full-time role with the same employer is not available, the combination of a partial qualification, real workplace experience and a professional reference gives you a meaningful advantage in the job market.
MIGAS in Schools
Our Field Officers and community liaisons visit schools and career expos across our operating states to talk to students and families about trade and vocational pathways. If you would like a MIGAS representative to visit your school or speak at a career event, contact your local MIGAS office.
In the meantime, keep an eye on our Jobs Board as new positions, including school-based roles, are added regularly.