School-based training a foot in the door to a career for Tassie teensBy Lucie CuttingABC Radio HobartTopic:Secondary Education11m ago11 minutes agoSun 4 May 2025 at 10:09pmCollege students Kayla Perkins, left, and Harper Giles are both undertaking school-based traineeships. (ABC Hobart: Lucie Cutting)abc.net.au/news/school-based-apprenticeships-and-traineeships-in-tasmania/105117324Link copiedShareShare articleA school-based traineeship has given college students Harper Giles and Kayla Perkins a foot in the door to their future careers before they even finish school. School-based trainees and apprentices split their week between school, work and training to achieve nationally recognised qualifications alongside their secondary education.Mr Giles is the first school-based trainee employed by Tasman Council, which is located in south-east Tasmania, about 90 minutes from Hobart. His manager, Lee Wilson, said she initially shied away from hiring a school-aged trainee but now encouraged other local councils to become involved in the program.Life-changing opportunityMr Giles used to wake up at 6am, five days a week, to travel to school. Now he spends two days a week working close to home, in his own community, in south-east Tasmania.Aside from alleviating the stress of a long commute, there are many benefits for students who participate in the program, according to Mr Giles' teacher at Rosny College, Belinda Vallerine.Teacher Belinda Vallerine has seen participating students' confidence grow. (ABC Hobart: Lucie Cutting)Over the years she had been involved with the program, Ms Vallerine said she had witnessed apprentices and trainees becoming more self-assured."They come back with real confidence. They feel confident in their workplace and they're confident in their school environment as well," she said.Ms Giles said he had made some good friends at the council, and having the opportunity to work there while still at school had made him less anxious about finding more employment after he left college.Fellow student Ms Perkins had also become more confident.Kayla Perkins will have an early childhood education qualification by the time she finishes school. (ABC Hobart: Lucie Cutting)"It's an opportunity to be a responsible adult," she said.Ms Perkins is completing a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education alongside her school studies."I love being that person children look up to, and [being] a good role model for them," she said.Traineeship supports local talentMs Wilson said employing a school-based trainee had been a great experience for Tasman Council and a positive move for the local community.The Tasman municipality is made up of a small and aging population of fewer than 2,700 people. It also had high unemployment.Ms Wilson said Tasman Council had wanted to support a young community member in the hope of retaining local talent — but she initially had reservations about inviting a school-aged employee into the council workforce.Harper Giles works two days a week for the Tasman Council. (Supplied: Harper Giles)"I was expecting, particularly with a male teenager, they can get a bit quiet, shy or surly," she said."Harper has smashed the mould when it comes to that. Being able to watch him grow from this quiet person to a real professional … it's excellent."New apprenticeship fundingPhoto shows Electricians place solar panels on roofThe most recent data shows apprenticeship numbers haven't kept pace with population growth, with more than half of apprentices not completing their training.Ms Wilson said there were some challenges to work around, such as a trainee's availability which was limited by school and studies, and having to ensure staff working directly with a teenage employee were registered to work with vulnerable people.But she said the benefits were worth the effort."There is a cost to the organisation but the benefit to that person, their family and the community, outweighs the cost," she said."And just knowing they're walking away with a qualification that could take them anywhere is really encouraging and I'd encourage other councils to do it."Apprentice, trainee trendsThere are approximately 650 school-based trainees and apprentices in Tasmania, accounting for about 7 per cent of the state's overall apprenticeships and traineeships.Lee Xavier would like to see more government incentives for employers to take on trainees. (Supplied )Nationally, apprenticeships such as carpentry and plumbing are increasing in popularity over traineeships in hospitality, retail and business administration.Apprenticeship Support Australia chief executive Lee Xavier said he would like to see an increase in trainees and apprentices, and suggested this could be achieved by more incentives being built into the program to attract employers."We do know that it costs the business a bit of time and money," Mr Xavier said."So any incentives that can be built back into the system are normally a trigger for the employer to be able to allow that position to open up."A strategic review by the federal government into the incentive system was released in February and further consultation was underway.Disengaged youth programPhoto shows Two young people hold bushes and are looking down as they clean pieces of gingerThis program takes younger students out of school to offer hands-on learning experiences to showcase life outside the classroom.Ms Vallerine, who oversees 13 student-based trainees and apprentices but has previously worked with 70, said she would also like to see more students and employers become involved in the program."There are some students that don't suit school, and I think if we can offer that two-day opportunity in a workplace I think our [retention] would increase because they have that work-life balance," she said."If we have more [opportunities], I feel we could engage a lot more students."ABC Hobart in your inboxGet local news, stories, community events, recipes and more each fortnight.Your information is being handled in accordance with the ABC Privacy Collection Statement.Email addressSubscribePosted 11m ago11 minutes agoSun 4 May 2025 at 10:09pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top Stories'Laughable policies': Voters explain what went wrong for CoalitionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A young coupleThe message to the Coalition is clear: This is not John Howard's AustraliaPAnalysis by Patricia KarvelasPhoto shows Anthony Albanese holds up his hands to calm the crowd.How the Liberals lost the cities and Labor found a new heartlandTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Anthony Albanese walks through a crowd. 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