Roles and responsibilities in school-based apprenticeships and traineeships
Each person involved in a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT) has a set role and specific responsibilities under the training contract.
School-based apprentices and trainees
The apprentice's or trainee's role is to start learning a new skill or trade while still attending school and studying for their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).
They are responsible for:
- getting school support for the apprenticeship or traineeship
- co-creating their school, work and training timetable
- working at least 7.5 hours a week
- learning vocational skills listed in their training plan
- attending training
- attending school.
Learn more about the responsibilities of the apprentice or trainee.
Parents and guardians
The parent's or guardian's role is to help their child to successfully undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship.
They are responsible for:
- giving permission for their child to do the SAT
- helping their child find an employer
- getting school support for the apprenticeship or traineeship
- signing the training contract and other forms (if applicable and appropriate)
- helping to create their child's school, work and training timetable
- helping their child to resolve any problems.
Learn more about the responsibilities of the parent or guardian.
Schools and staff
Not all schools support school-based arrangements. It is their choice to include it in their educational program.
The school's role is to support the school-based apprentice or trainee to learn both vocational and academic skills.
They are responsible for:
- acting in the student's best interests by helping them develop a senior education and training (SET) plan to help choose the most appropriate apprenticeship or traineeship
- advising the student and parent of how undertaking vocational education and training (VET) options may affect future funded training opportunities for the student
- giving support for a school-based arrangement
- co-creating a school, work and training timetable
- releasing the student from classes to attend work or training
- supporting the student during the apprenticeship or traineeship.
Learn more about the role and responsibilities of the school.
Employers
The employer's role is to provide employment and the supervised work-based training required under the apprentice's or trainee's training plan.
As well as providing wages, entitlements and a safe workplace, they are responsible for:
- providing enough work hours to meet the minimum paid work requirements
- ensuring the school supports the arrangement
- co-creating the student's school, work and training timetable
- providing the workplace training for all competencies under the training plan.
Learn more about the responsibilities of the employer.
Training organisations
Registered training organisations train and assess apprentices and trainees.
They are responsible for:
- negotiating the training plan which documents how, when and who will deliver the training and assessment
- co-creating the student's school, work and training timetable
- training and assessing the student
- checking progress, and notifying us of any delays in training progression
- offering learning support if needed.
Learn more about the role and responsibilities of the training organisation.
Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) providers
Apprenticeships and traineeships can't start without an AASN provider.
They are responsible for:
- signing up the school-based apprentice or trainee
- alerting them to any subsidies
- doing most of the paperwork in relation to the training contract.
Learn more about the role and responsibilities of the AASN provider.
Department of Employment, Small Business and Training
We oversee the apprenticeship and traineeship system in Queensland and are responsible for:
- the administration and management of training contracts
- giving support and advice
- answering queries and resolving disputes
- issuing completion certificates.
Learn more about our role and services.
Queensland Training Ombudsman
The Queensland Training Ombudsman is an independent consumer advocate for the training sector which investigates complaints from stakeholders involved in VET.
Learn more about the Queensland Training Ombudsman.
More information
For detailed information on roles and responsibilities, read the guide to school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.