HEAD START
School-based apprenticeships
and traineeships (SBAT)

School-based apprenticeships and traineeships
 School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs) are an employment-based learning pathway that you can take during your secondary schooling. You will combine your senior school years with paid part-time employment and skills training in your chosen field.

About Head Start
Head Start connects students to SBAT opportunities. Head Start Coordinators located in schools across Victoria support students to identify and commence their SBAT, complete school, and transition to full time employment post-school.
You can undertake an SBAT if you are:

• Over 15 years old
• Enrolled in years 10, 11 or 12
• An Australian citizen or permanent resident.

*Non-citizens may be eligible under certain circumstances. Speak with your Head Start coordinator for more information.

REGISTER HERE

Benefits

• increase your future employability and earning potential, by gaining the skills, confidence and knowledge you need to succeed in the future workplace
• undertake a secondary certificate such as the VCE, including the VCE Vocational Major, or the Victorian Pathways Certificate.
• undertake paid employment to build the career you want.
• access quality VET courses, in a wide range of industries with an approved training provider.
• combine regular school attendance with a minimum of 7 hours per week of employment, and a minimum of 6 hours per week of structured training, (averaged over 3 periods of 4 months in each year of the SBAT). At least 1 day per week is timetabled by your school to be spent on the job or in training during the normal school week.

What is Head Start?

​Testimonial

​“We engaged in the Head Start program when my daughter Bonnie, was offered an SBAT following one week work placement at Good Start Early Learning Numurkah.
Bonnie has been undertaking a Head Start SBAT since September 2024.
 
"It’s really helpful to have one central contact person who oversees the entire SBAT and stays in touch with everyone involved — my daughter, the school, the employer, the training provider, and me as the parent."
 
Peta Russo, parent of Bonnie Russo SBAT at
​Good Start Early Learning - Numurkah
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​HEAD START supports everyone

​Head Start - Hearing from our employers:

​Head Start - Hearing from our parents:

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​Head Start - Hearing from our students:

​Training Contracts and Training Plans
 Head Start Coordinators take the stress out of the SBAT signup processs, by organising an appropriate time and date for:

• Apprenticeship Support Services
• parents and students
• employers

Your Head Start Coordinator will help you navigate the enrolment process with the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and ensure your school is supplied with a copy of your Training Plan.  All VCE and VET providers enter and use the Victorian Assessment Software System (VASS) to enrol students and record results.

Your Head Start Coordinator will also routinely check in with you, your employer, and your RTO to ensure you are progressing through the SBAT, whilst maintaining your studies at school.

​Contact Us

Head Start Coordinator  -  Kristen Elliott          0493 772 617           [email protected]   
GOULBURN OVENS MURRAY              [email protected]

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REGISTER HERE