Our SBAT story started in 2018, where we had one School Based Traineeship in operation.

By the end of 2019, we will have 14 SBATS in operation at Vincentia High School. We are lucky enough to have a variety of SBATs, including apprentice hairdressers, pastry chefs, electro-technology and animal studies, retail, business services, early childhood education and care, and education support. Eight of the 14 SBATS at VHS are Indigenous. Aunty Gai and community are looking at trying to fund another seven positions for 2020. I quickly realised that in order for our SBATs to be successful we needed lots of support. I think statistically speaking, 50% of post-school traineeship and apprenticeship positions succeed and if they commence these in Years 11 and 12 as part of their pattern of study, this statistic branches out to 80%. This is primarily due to the support students receive at school. Therefore I started looking around for mentors and support for our school-based apprentices and trainees. I noticed an I-Path poster come over my desk and I contacted Mr Paul Morris, who provided me with some insight into the program. This is really what started everything and Paul coordinated a meeting for all prospective employers, educators and community leaders to come together. Mr Ken Bates (VHS Principal at the time) was happy to support our ideas. Paul would like to see us map this idea to a curriculum pattern of study for students and debunk some of the myths around SBATs. Out of these meetings rose the Indigenous Careers Expo for VHS students. The students currently work with Lynette Ardler and Glenn Deeth from Corporate Connextions. They provide valuable support for the students. Glenn regularly checks attendance of the students at work and tracks their path with employers to find out how they are going.

Students currently involved in SBATs

 

Story contributed by Maree McNeil from Vincentia High School. Published in 2019.