Information for VET coordinators

Over an 18 month traineeship, students:

• work 2 days a week in a public sector agency and this counts towards their Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE)
• get paid a part time salary
• complete a nationally recognised Certificate II in Government
• receive ongoing support from a workplace supervisor to develop workplace and communication skills for future employment
• gain experience in public administration duties and/or service delivery to clients
• learn workplace safety procedures
• develop skills needed to work in team environments with diverse colleagues
• enhance their ability to use a range of software, technology and office equipment
• build foundational knowledge and skills in public administration and governance practices.

Applications for 2025-26 are closed. 

We recommend students look at the type of work each agency offering school based traineeships does to see if it aligns with their interests and future plans, as well as where they are located.

The student sends their applications directly to agencies that interest them. This must include:

• a completed School based trainee application form
• a current resume
• a Year 10 semester one school report which shows at least one of the following:
• minimum C grade achievements for Mathematics and English
• minimum NAPLAN Band 8
• OLNA Category 3.

If the student’s Year 10 semester one report is unavailable, the school principal can endorse their application in writing and confirm they are on track to meet the academic requirements.

Agencies assess applications and contact students and their parent or guardian directly if they choose to invite them to the next stage of the recruitment process. Students may be asked to come to a face to face interview.

If a student has not been offered a traineeship by their preferred agency, they may be approached by the Public Sector Commission to consider a placement elsewhere. This will only happen if the student has provided consent in the School based traineeship application form to be considered for other opportunities.

Successful applicants commence their traineeship in February 2025.

Before starting, the employing agency:

• makes a formal offer of employment through an 18 month fixed term contract which both the student and their parent or guardian sign
• contacts the student to confirm induction details, work location and start day and time
• selects an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider and arrange a meeting with the trainee and their parent or guardian to sign the training contract
• selects a registered training organisation and organises a session for the trainer to visit the trainee's workplace within 6 weeks of their commencement. The training organisation works with the trainee and their workplace supervisor to prepare a training plan to help them complete the Certificate II in Government.

Supervision

• Each trainee is assigned a workplace supervisor at the employing agency who supports and guides them.
• The supervisor provides the trainee with regular and meaningful tasks and supports them in completing their Certificate II in Government units.
• The training organisation also visits the workplace and assesses trainees through observation, discussions and evidence based work, as well as feedback from their workplace supervisor.

Roster and leave

• The school must agree to release the student to the workplace for 2 days per week (Thursday and Friday are preferred) on the understanding they will maintain their school subjects.
• The student attends school for the remaining 3 days while completing Years 11 and 12.
• The student works in the school holidays unless they have organised leave with their employing agency.

Variation to traineeship days and hours

• Agencies can speak with individual schools to determine alternative workdays.
• Trainees can request to work one day per week if their circumstances require this. Agencies can determine if this is acceptable. If an agency approves the one day per week option, the trainee must be paid for a minimum of 7.5 hours per week on a continuous basis over the training contract.

Wages

• School based trainees are paid an hourly rate of pay as a trainee based on their age and the employing agency's industrial agreement and/or award.
• The relevant agreement and award will be noted on the employment contract provided by the employing agency.

Trainee responsibilities include:

• ensuring all Certificate II assessment tasks are completed and submitted on time
• ensuring all work tasks are completed to the best of their ability
• asking their workplace supervisor and training organisation officer questions if they are unsure or need clarification on tasks
• keeping a detailed timesheet logging their hours of attendance, as per the school and employing agency’s requirements
• attending all induction and training events as required by their employing agency and training organisation
• following their agency's code of conduct and other relevant policies and procedures.

When students have completed their traineeship and Certificate II in Government, they may like to:

• complete a full time, higher level traineeship (for example, a Certificate III in Government)
• apply to join the Solid Futures traineeship program if they are an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person
• consider a fixed term or permanent employment with their employing agency, if offered
• apply for employment opportunities on the WA government jobs board
• continue to look for other employment or education opportunities.