Australian School Based Apprenticeships

Gain your Certificate III in Children’s Services while still at school!
Through this program students will:

• Finish VCE or VCAL with a nationally recognised Certificate III.
• Gain real work experience! You will be ready for immediate entry into the workforce after Year 12.
• Have paid employment during the course! A part time position for one day per week is offered as part of the program.
• Gain invaluable skills in working and caring for children and being a professional.

How does an Australian School Based Apprenticeship work?
Students must be enrolled in Year 11 or 12 working towards their Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL). 
Students who enrol at the start of Year 11 will complete the course over 18 months during the Year 11 and 12 school years while those who enrol in Year 12 will participate in an accelerated learning program to complete the course within the Year 12 school year. 
Students will be offered employment as a trainee with CMC Training at Work.  Employment will be for one day per week for the duration of the program - this time will be spent in a Children’s Services centre gaining work experience and practicing new skills. The course includes structured training days which will be spread across the school terms and will be held in a variety of metropolitan and regional locations.  Students must commit to some work and training requirements during school holiday periods. 

Who is eligible to be an Australian School Based Apprentice (ASBA) with CMC Training at Work?
Applicants must:

• Be enrolled or be enrolling into Year 11 or 12 to complete the VCE or VCAL.
• Have a keen interest and aspiration to work with and provide care for children.  Applicants must have completed at least 1 week of work experience within a child care centre previously.  This could be through voluntary or work experience arrangements.
• Be 15 years or over and a permanent resident of Australia.
• Have a Tax File Number and be able to provide this to CMC for employment purposes.
• Have a police check certified with the Victoria Police.  For applicants over the age of 18, a Working with Children Check is mandatory.
• Be prepared to commit to work and/or training every week.
• Be available for work and/or training in each school week and up to one week of each school holiday period.
• Have the support of their parents/guardians and school coordinator.

What is the difference between a school based apprenticeship and a VET program?
This apprenticeship program combines a VET certificate program with paid employment.

In a school based apprenticeship, students benefit from continual part time employment while completing a qualification as well as their VCE or VCAL.  A VET program does not offer paid employment as part of the course.

Are there any costs?
There are costs associated with enrolling in a School Based Apprenticeship.  Fees are set by the State Government Office of Training and Tertiary Education each year.  Check the Application Form for the current price. Concession fees are available to those students or families who have a current health care or pensioner concession card or to those experiencing financial hardship. 

Will the program contribute to my ENTER score?
Students may be eligible to attract recognition towards their secondary schooling. This credit is called Block Credit Recognition. See your VCE or VET Coordinator at school for further information and advice.

Who will my employer be?
CMC Training at Work will be your employer and pay you for your day’s work at the host centre each week.  Wages are paid fortnightly upon submission of a timesheet which are approved by the workplace supervisor as well as our program manager.  The employment arrangement only applies for the duration of the program. 

Where will my host workplace be?
CMC Training at Work can help to source a suitable placement for you.  In finding a suitable placement, CMC will liaise with services in your local area.  If you have a children’s services centre that you volunteer with or would like to work with you can nominate this on your application form.

How can I apply?

• Make sure you meet all of the eligibility criteria. 
• If you don’t have a Tax File Number, apply for one now with the Australian Tax Office so you have it available for your interview and induction.
• If you don’t have experience within a child care centre or similar, arrange some work experience now so that it’s completed before the interviews. 
• Arrange to have a police check through the Victoria Police.  Forms are available from Victoria Police or from CMC’s office.
• Complete the Application Form and return it to CMC by the end of Term 3.
• Interviews will be held during November and December.  All applicants must attend an interview at a time advised by CMC Training at Work.  The interview will be a half day interview and introductory session.
• Successful applicants and their schools will be advised shortly after the interview and an orientation to the program will be held in late January.

Certificate III in Children’s Services

Learning Outcomes: The Certificate III supports entry-level work in the children’s services sector and will teach you about using organisational policies and procedures, using children’s profiles to plan activities, providing care for children and facilitating play to achieve developmental outcomes.

Training & Assessment: Students will be visited by their trainer in the host workplace throughout the course.  This is to provide individual training, support and assessment and to monitor progression against the training plan.

Tasks and assessments will relate to the position you carry out at your host centre and will incorporate current workplace practices so training and assessment is current and relevant.  Students have options about the assessment tasks they complete. For example, a student may choose to answer a question by making a poster whereas another student may wish to work on a CD or provide written answers in an essay. 

Course Topics: Professional Development; Children’s Health and Safety, Basic Child Development and Programming, Children’s Welfare & Wellbeing; First aid. 

Career Outcomes: Graduates of the course can expect to work as a children’s services assistant, family day care provider or as a nanny. 

Certification: Certificate III in Children’s Services plus certificates in First Aid, Food Safety and EpiPen.

INDUSTRY INFORMATION -  The Children’s Services Profession
What is Children’s Services?
Work within children’s services involves working with and caring for children between the ages of 0-6 years.  Work as a children’s services professional may take place within a long day care or occasional care centre (or child care centre), family day care which is provided in the carer’s home or as a nanny where children are cared for in their family home. 

Is Children’s Services for me?
A career in children’s services can be a challenging and rewarding path to take if you have a passion and keen interest in caring for and working with children.  It involves being part of a team whose daily role is to provide high quality care to children so it means being responsible, reliable and committed.  It can be hard work but professionals in this field get to share some of the most beautiful memories created by a child and play a valuable role in supporting the community.

Desirable personal qualities of a children’s services professional are patience, understanding, imagination and energy.

What does the work involve?
Responsibilities of a children’s services professional include facilitating children’s play and leisure; planning children’s routines and programs to meet their developmental needs; providing nutritious food; providing play experiences which enhance physical, cognitive, language and emotional development; working with children with additional needs; evaluating service programs; observing children; working with families and more!

What are the career options?
The career options for a children’s services professional are many and varied. Options include owning and running your own child care centre, supervising a child care room and other staff, running a family day care business for a small group of children in your home, nanny-caring in someone else’s family home, training and assessing other child care professionals, working with children who have additional needs, child safety liaison or inspector and the possibilities go on.  This qualification covers all the required pre-requisites for enrolment into the Diploma of Children’s Services.

Career Pathways

If you would like to apply for this apprenticeship please fill in the below application form and mail it to our head office;

187 Langridge St
Abbotsford
Victoria 3067