Canberra students are being encouraged to spend their summer holidays considering taking up a school-based apprenticeship to complement their studies, help them build rewarding careers and meet Territory skills needs.
Leading the call, the Minister for Education, Yvette Berry said the summer break would give more ACT students the chance to consider starting an Australian School-based Apprenticeships (ASbAs) when they returned to school in the New Year.
Ms Berry said the Education Directorate launched its Head Start program this year to provide more flexible and tailored ASbAs that matched a student’s job interests with those of local businesses in need of skilled workers.
She said students were embracing the opportunities ASbAs offered.
“The ACT Government is committed to providing world class education and training through our Vocational Education and Training (VET) system,” Ms Berry said.
“This will help young people to enter the sectors they are interested in and give them greater employment opportunities,” she said.
“An ASbA fits into a student’s school study program and can count towards their ACT Senior Secondary Certificate.”
Minister for Skills, Chris Steel said ASbAs gave students meaningful, hands-on experience across a range of industries.
“An ASbA offers students, aged 15 or over, the opportunity to achieve a nationally recognised vocational qualification by combining paid work and structured off-the-job training, while continuing their school education,” Mr Steel said.
“Students can earn while they learn and can kick-start a career in industries such as building and construction, hairdressing, retail, information and communication technology, aged care, early childhood education and care, and hospitality,” he said.
“In some instances, particularly in traditional trades, students may start an ASbA while at school and transition into a full-time apprenticeship on completing Year 12, giving them a head start towards a qualification.”
Mr Steel said some of these trades would offer students the opportunity to work on a few of the ACT’s major infrastructure projects, like the future northside hospital, new CIT or light rail to Woden.
Further information on ASbAs can be accessed at this PS News link.
