VET stands for Vocational Education and Training. VET gives people workplace skills and technical knowledge.
A Training Centre (TC) is a specialised educational facility where students have access to a wider range of vocational education and training (VET) opportunities. Training Centres at Sydney Catholic Schools include Saint Yon Trade Training Centre (LaSalle Catholic College), St Joseph Trades Skills Centre (Good Samaritan Catholic College), and Southern Cross Catholic College. All senior students across Sydney Catholic Schools may access courses available at our Training Centres.
SBAT stands for School-Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship.
A school-based apprenticeship enables a student to commence an apprenticeship while completing the HSC. Students combine paid part-time employment, formal training and school and work towards completing the requirements of Stage One of their apprenticeship while at school. Where the requirements of Stage One have been successfully completed, the student progresses to Stage Two of the apprenticeship after leaving school and continues in employment and formal training until all apprenticeship requirements are completed.
A school-based traineeship enables a student to undertake a traineeship while completing the HSC. Students combine paid employment, formal training and school and work towards completing the relevant nationally recognised qualification and required on-the-job training during their school-based traineeship.
Both school-based apprenticeships and traineeships are formal employment and training arrangements established through a Training Contract between the employer and the apprentice or trainee, which must be approved by Training Services.
The Registered Training Organisation (RTO) records the formal training successfully completed by the student. Depending on the training arrangement and the student’s progress, this may result in the issue of a nationally recognised qualification or a Statement of Attainment for units of competency successfully completed.
Once all required formal training and on-the-job requirements of the apprenticeship or traineeship have been successfully completed, Training Services issues a Certificate of Proficiency.
Being offered a full-time apprenticeship is a significant opportunity. However, a school-based apprenticeship can provide the benefits of commencing an apprenticeship while also completing the HSC.
Students combine paid employment, formal training and school and work towards the requirements of Stage One of their apprenticeship while still having access to the support of their school, employer and Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
Remaining at school allows students to:
- continue working towards the HSC while commencing their chosen trade;
- gain paid, practical industry experience;
- progress through formal apprenticeship training;
- develop confidence, workplace skills and independence in a supported environment; and
- keep broader education, training and employment pathways open.
Where the requirements of Stage One are successfully completed, students generally progress to Stage Two of their apprenticeship after leaving school and continue until all apprenticeship requirements are completed.
Students who are considering leaving school to take up a full-time apprenticeship should discuss both options with their parent/carer, school and employer before making a decision.
Work placement is a mandatory component of most vocational education and training courses. It provides students with the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge they have gained in the classroom to a real workplace setting.
Students must complete the minimum work placement hours required to be eligible for their HSC, should their VET course contribute to the minimum units required for the HSC credential. Students will receive an N-Award for their respective VET course if the minimum mandatory work placement hours are not completed, as NESA course requirements have not been met.
Some VET courses also require work placement hours to achieve the qualification. If requirements are not met, the student will not achieve the qualification.
There may be fees which are outlined during the subject selection and enrolment process.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is available. Students must talk to their VET Teacher and VET Co-ordinator about the process, and submit the form and documentation required.
Yes, vocational education and training qualification delivered at Sydney Catholic Schools are recognised nationally.
All 240-hour VET Industry Curriculum Framework courses include an HSC examination which provides the opportunity for students to have this HSC examination mark contribute to the calculation of their ATAR. Students may study multiple Industry Curriculum Framework courses, and these may contribute to the calculation of the ATAR.
VET courses are competency-based. This means that a student’s performance is judged against a prescribed standard contained in each unit of competency. In competency-based assessment, students are either competent or not yet competent. Teachers will gather information and make judgments about a student’s achievement on a continuous basis.
All HSC courses require a similar level of commitment in order to succeed. Most VET courses have a work placement component, so it is important the number of VET courses undertaken, and the work placement commitment requirements.
Yes, students may undertake more than one VET course as part of their HSC pattern of study. Students should be aware of HSC packaging rules to ensure NESA requirements are met.
For example, a minimum of six board-developed units must be selected, however, if a student wishes to obtain an ATAR, a minimum of ten board-developed units must be selected in Year 11 and 12. Preliminary students must study a minimum of 12 units; whereas, HSC students must study a minimum of 10 units.
Students should select courses based on their interests. If students do well in their HSC Exam, this will contibute to a favourable outcome.