Communities at Work

What is an Australian School-based Apprenticeship (ASBA)? 

An Australian School-based Apprenticeship (ASBA) allows student who are 15 years or over, and enrolled in school completing their Year 10 or 12 Certificate, the opportunity to achieve a nationally recognised vocational qualification by combining paid work and training as part of their education program.  

You should refer to the ACT ASBA Guide for Schools for detailed information, along with current eligibility requirements. This guide will also provide assistance with understanding the benefits of completing an ASBA and how it can contribute towards your Year 10 or 12 certificate.  

→ CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ASbA guide

It’s important to note that all training providers, such as CPLE, offer different support models and qualifications for ASBAs. As an ASBA, your employer (the workplace) and your school, should be involved in assisting you to choose the best training provider for you. Things to consider are: 

• How often will I be required to attend face-to-face classes? 
• What type of support does the training provider offer? 
• Does the delivery model suit my learning style? 
• Does the qualification course structure ensure that I can have points added towards my Year 10 or 12 certificate? 
• Does the training provider have a good reputation within my chosen work sector? 

At CPLE, we work closely with the schools and student’s workplaces to ensure that each student’s needs are met, and to ensure that they getting the most benefits out of their ASBA pathway. 

What qualifications do CPLE offer for ASBAs? 

We offer ASBAs for the following qualifications: 

• BSB20120 Certificate II in Workplace Skills: This qualification would be suitable to most workplaces so your employment options with this ASBA are quite broad.
• BSB30120 Certificate III in Business: For this option, you will need to be working in a business where you are involved in administration and customer service tasks. This qualification is very transferrable, so your workplace options are broad. 
• CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care: For this option, you will need to be working within the early childhood education and care sector. 

BSB20120 Certificate II in Workplace Skills Learn More

BSB30120 Certificate III in Business Learn More

CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care Learn More

 

What is the ‘ASBA Study Model’ at CPLE? 

ASBA have access to all of the support and flexible study options that are available to all CPLE students. Detailed information regarding this support can be found on the Studying with CPLE page. We can tailor the ASBA Study Model to suit your school timetable, workplace and personal circumstances. 

The most common ASBA model is outlined below: 

• The student works in their chosen workplace 2 days per week  
• On one of the above workdays each month, the ASBA attends a face-to-face study session with CPLE 
• The working days, and study session day changes each semester to accommodate for the school timetable, and workplace rostering requirements.  

The benefit of the above model is that there is minimal impact to the ASBAs other school requirements, and the workplace needs and preferences are accommodated.  

When can I enrol into an ASBA with CPLE? 

Due to the way we structure our qualifications, students can enrol at anytime with CPLE. You do not need to wait for the start of a term or semester. This means that you don’t need to feel pressured into making a decision about commencing an ASBA as there is no deadline. 

How long will it take to complete the qualification? 

At CPLE, we do not place pressure on ASBAs to complete their entire qualification while at school. ASBAs progress through the units of competency according to their individual Assessment Schedule. If they have not completed the qualification before finishing school, they can easily transition into a fulltime, or parttime, traineeship with their current workplace. CPLE will support the ASBA to engage in these discussions with their workplace. 

How much does it cost to study as an ASBA? 

ASBAs can access User Choice* funding for their chosen qualification with CPLE. This means that the student will only pay a $350 Student Administration Fee upon enrolment (payment plan option available), and the Government will pay for the remainder of the qualification. Please refer to the User Choice Funding page for more detail, including eligibility requirements. 

*Australian Apprenticeships in the ACT are funded by the ACT and Australian Governments. 

How do I start an ASBA with CPLE? 

The first step is to engage in Work Experience (WEX) within the business and chosen sector/industry that you think you’ll like to kickstart your career within. This will assist you to confirm that you are making the right decision for you, and also allows you to build a relationship with your potential employer. You must speak with your school WEX Coordinator (sometimes referred to as the VET Coorindator, or Careers Advisor) to arrange the WEX.  

If this WEX is successful, for both you and the employer, then you can begin speaking with your school, the employer and CPLE about commencing an ASBA.  

This ASBA Information Pack outlines the steps required to enrol in an ASBA with CPLE.

→ CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ASbA guide