Working their way to school completion: a snapshot of School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships for young Australians

Abstract

This paper highlights troubling patterns within the Australian School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs) by analysing statistical data of 21,000 of 15 to 19 year old apprenticeship/traineeship learners engaged in Vocational Education and Training in School (VETiS). It confirms the alignment of social groups to certain qualification fields and levels and provides a compelling picture of the learner profile of SBAT including the type of occupations and qualifications being undertaken at school level. In a complex policy environment, where VET in Schools has been assigned the important task of preparing "workforce job-ready" students (Birmingham 2015) for the "high skill and high earning roles our economy demands" (Ley 2014), we argue that the SBAT pathway is not yet adequate to meet these high expectations. It is not an effective apprenticeship pathway as it potentially 'locks-in' already disadvantaged young people to precarious pathways, and reinforces the nature of an already highly gender-segregated Australian labour market. The paper helps to focus attention on endemic weaknesses in the Australian VET system that serve to entrench disadvantage in Australian society.

The Effects of Situational Factors in the Implementation of Work-Based Learning Model on Vocational Education in Indonesia

“…The high correlation between WBL learning processes and the readiness of student work indicates that WBL learning processes have a significant effect on the learning outcomes. The research finding is relevant to the study conducted by Klatt (2017) which proves that the use of Work-Based Learning (WBL) in teaching and learning processes will provide positive effects on the students' achievement, motivation, and continuation of education. WBL program will improve the learning outcomes if the program objectives, curriculum, and internship are designed, applied, and evaluated properly (Billett, 2016).…”

The expansion and contraction of the apprenticeship system in Australia, 1985-2020

“…2. There are, however, 'school-based apprenticeships', with special arrangements, occurring in generalist secondary schools (Klatt, Clarke, and Dulfer 2017). 3. https://www.voced.edu.au/vet-knowledge-bank-landmark-documents 4. https://www.voced.edu.au/vet-knowledge-bank-landmark-documents 5. https://www.dese.gov.au/review-australian-apprenticeships-national-skills-needs-list…”