Careers

At St John’s School, we believe that career development and vocational education and training pathways are an integral part of the learning curriculum. Students are guided as they explore the many academic pathways through University, TAFE, School Based Apprenticeships or Traineeships (SBAT), Work Experience and Employment.

Today, career development incorporates everything we do. It is an important step in preparing students, through participation in education, work experience, sports, hobbies, voluntary work and paid employment, to successfully transition from school to further education, training and employment.

With the support of the school and teaching staff, St John’s has a Career Development Practitioner and Career Support Officer who are available to assist students and parents navigate their way through the many opportunities available.

The Career Development Team provide:

• One-on-one and small group career guidance sessions
• Subject selection or subject change advice
• Parent Information Nights
• Career Education Programs across Years 8 – 12
• Flexible study options
• School based apprenticeship and traineeship support
• Pathways to employment
• Access to guest speakers, presenters, and workshops throughout the year
• Information for students and parents in the newsletter.

These activities and programs are aimed to enable students to make informed decisions about their future pathways.

Work Experience

Work Experience provides a formal arrangement whereby students participate in activities at a place of work. This is a great opportunity for students to learn about the nature of the work that is performed in each role within a business. Work Experience may confirm that a job in that field is what they wish to pursue, but also, what they want to avoid!

Work Experience at St John’s School:

• Short-term placement consisting of 30 days per calendar year.
• Available for Years 10 – 12.
• Students in Year 9 may enquire about Work Experience over their school holidays.
• Students MUST commit to catching up on all schoolwork missed due to their Work Experience placement.
• Students in Year 10 may choose to do their Work Experience during Week 10 of each Term, after assessments have been completed.
• Due to the nature of the Years 11 & 12 Academic Calendar, dates for Work Experience will need to be negotiated, and may be more likely to fall over School Holidays.
• Work Experience must be completed in a business prior to being signed up for a School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship.

St John’s have a direct relationship with local businesses that support the work experience program. Before commencing a Work Experience placement, a formal arrangement is made between the school, student, parents and the business for students to participate in activities in a workplace. St John’s encourages students to complete five days of Work Experience per business, however, this can be negotiated upon application.

Insurance is provided through Public Liability Insurance and is the responsibility of the Department of Education in all Queensland schools. Workers’ Compensation is the responsibility of the individual schooling sector.

VET – Vocational Education and Training

VET can provide students the practical skills and knowledge they need to enter the workforce, undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship (including SBAT), or go onto tertiary study.

VET qualifications include a Certificate I, II, III, IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma, with a Certificate III or higher contributing to a student’s ATAR when studied alongside four general subjects. VET allows students to complete competency-based learning in an area they are interested as part of their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) pathway, contributing between 3 and 8 QCE points per course. On completion, students will also receive a Nationally Recognised Vocational Qualification.

VET can provide students with the practical skills and knowledge they need to

• Provide work placement in the industry
• Gain employment for the first time
• Commence an apprenticeship or traineeship
• Continue on to University courses.

In 2020, 18.4% of our St John’s Year 10 cohort studied a VET subject, 83.3% of Year 11s studied a Certificate I – III whilst at school, and 55.6% of our Year 12 students worked towards a Certificate II or III.

SBAT – School-based Apprenticeship and Traineeships

How do School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships Work?

• Students must gain support and approval from their school to undertake a SBAT, this is done by completing the SBAT Expression of Interest Form.
• Students will continue to attend school, however, some of their paid employment and training will become part of their school timetable.
• The school, student, parent or guardian, employer and training organisation will sit down and work out a schedule which outlines when the student is at school, work and training. The schedule must indicate how the SBAT will impact on the school timetable. The school has a role in providing support to the student throughout the SBAT.
• The student enters a training contract with the employer, the training contract legally binds the employer and the student for the duration of the SBAT.
• Employers are required to providing the student with a minimum of 375 hours (50 days) of paid employment over each 12 month period of the training contract. This translates to 1 day in the workplace.
• For students undertaking an apprenticeship in the Electrotechnology industry, the minimum work requirement is 600 hours (80) days over each 12 months period. This translates to 2 days in the workplace.
• The student and the employer will select a register training organisation (RTO) who will provide all the training and assessment for the SBAT. The RTO will work with the employer and student to develop a training plan which outlines the training needs, how and when the training will take place and who will provide the training and how training will be assessed.
• The qualification or competencies completed during the SBAT are contributing to Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).
• Students may access a maximum of two (2) government funded SBATs. It is important that students and parents/guardians consider if the chosen SBAT is appropriate and relates to the student’s future chosen career as future funding will be limited.
• A school-based traineeship is usually completed whilst the student is still an enrolled school student and will graduate with this qualification.
• A school-based apprenticeship is unlikely to be completed whilst the student is still an enrolled school student. In signing up, the parties have agreed that once the student completes school, the training contract will be converted from part-time to full-time. This will be an automatic process which is completed by DESBT (Department of Employment, Small Business and Training). If students would like to continue part-time, they will have an opportunity to advise the department.
• Once converted to full-time the student will be required to pay student contribution fees to the RTO.

School-based Traineeship (SBT)

School-based traineeship are intended for students in Year 10,11 and 12, and are usually completed while the student in enrolled at school. Traineeships include areas such as Business, Retail, Information Technology, Early Childhood, Hospitality and Agriculture. These areas provide the student with a specific skill set that can be used for further employment opportunities.

Traineeships are usually completed over a 12 – 24 month period, meaning that students in Years 10 or 11 have the possibility of completing their qualification whilst they are at school. Students with remaining competencies at the end of Year 12, will automatically switch to full time with the employer until completion.

School-based Apprenticeships (SBA)

School-based apprenticeships are intended for students in Year 10,11 and 12 and include several trade areas. Unlike Traineeships, Apprenticeships will not be completed whilst a student is at school, but instead is used as a stepping stone to employment after school. An Apprenticeship will start with 1 day a week in the workplace, which may increase to 2 in Year 12. This is negotiated with the school and timetables need to be adjusted. Students are welcome to complete further days in the workplace over their weekends and school holidays.

Please get in contact!

St John’s is very supportive of the pathway programs available for senior students, recognising the advantages, flexibility and variety it offers. VET pathways allow students to get a head start in a career, a nationally recognised qualification, as well as the opportunity to learn and earn, and contribute to the community.

There are so many options available for students as part of their Senior Phase of Learning. If you’re not sure, have questions or need clarification, please get in contact and we will help you out.