The New South Wales Department of Education is running an Educational Pathways Program to help fill engineering roles and train our future workforce.
The program allows school students in year 11 and 12 to gain industry skills and experience across many professions by working part-time and completing their secondary education.
Students do this through school-based traineeships and apprenticeships (SBATs) where they spend around 100-130 days on the job over year 11 and 12. SBATs are supported by industry, often local organisations, giving businesses an opportunity to identify and engage with motivated students at a young age.
Employers can work with Education NSW to tailor training, so it aligns with specific industry and business needs allowing students to gain company specific knowledge. Businesses and students can get involved in several SBAT’s that relate to specific areas of engineering, as listed at the end of the article.
Engineers Australia’s Newcastle Education Subcommittee has been working with the department on better links between students and industry. Newcastle General Manager Helen Link says the Educational Pathways Program is a win for the engineering industry and students.
“This initiative ensures students are well equipped for successful careers across the engineering profession. Industry also gets access to the best new talent coming forward and can foster that talent through customised training, all while building strong relationships with our future engineers,” she says.
Employers gain from the program by enhancing their long-term workforce planning; fostering a sense of loyalty and commitment of skilled workers for retention; demonstrating commitment of investing in youth and the local community and attracting students from a range of backgrounds to create a more inclusive and innovative work environment.
If your engineering business is keen to employ a student for an SBAT you can complete the government’s Educational Pathways Program expression of interest form.
For further information on the Educational Pathways Program contact Darren Fromson on 0436915529 or [email protected].
What engineering qualifications can SBATs undertake?
Traineeships (Completed at the end of year 12):
- MEM20305 Certificate II in Boating services (engineering)
- MEM20105 Certificate II in Engineering (general)
Apprenticeships (1st year completed by year 12, and they roll into a full-time 2nd year after year 12):
- MEM30219 Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade
- MEM30319 Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade
- MEM30405 Certificate III in Engineering - Electrical/Electronic Trade
- MEM31119 Certificate III in Engineering (Composites Trade)
- MEM31319 Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
- MEM31419 Certificate III in Engineering - Fixed and Mobile Plant Mechanic
- MEM31519 Certificate III in Engineering - Toolmaking Trade
- MEM31719 Certificate III in Engineering - Casting and Moulding Trade
- MEM40119 Certificate IV in Engineering