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FAQs

School Based Traineeship

What is a School-Based Traineeship?

A School-based Traineeship allows you to combine paid work, training and education to gain a nationally recognised qualification and practical work experience.

How many hours per week will I work?

During the school term, you are able to work between 7.5 to 15 hours per week. You can discuss which days will be best for you and the workplace prior to commencing your traineeship.

During school holidays you may be able to work up to an average of 25 hours per week in any one school holiday period. However, you may not exceed a total of 900 hours of work in any one year.

How much time will I spend at school?

You will attend school when timetabled to do so, and can chose to study subjects that are complementary to the traineeship qualification and contribute to the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE).

What qualification/training will I get?

Each traineeship will have either a certificate II or III qualification which you complete over the course of your traineeship.

A Training Plan will be developed with the workplace and a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) who is responsible for the training and assessment against the requirements of the qualification. There may be a combination of both on the job and off-site training.

Eligibility

How do I know if I am eligible to apply?

To qualify for a School-based Traineeship in 2026 you must:

• Be enrolled to start grade 11 in 2025; OR be commencing grade 12 in 2026 at a Tasmanian school;
• Participate in a Certificate II or III in the relevant vocation commencing 2026.

I am due to graduate grade 12 at the end of 2025, am I able to apply?

No, as you will no longer be a student in 2026.

I am going into grade 10 in 2025, am I eligible?

No, you are not eligible for a 2025 traineeship as you need to be commencing year 11 or 12 in 2026.

I am located in another State or Territory, am I eligible to apply?

You must be enrolled in a Tasmanian school for grade 11 or commencing grade 12 at a Tasmanian school in 2026, in order to be eligible. We will confirm the school information you provide to ensure that you are a current Tasmanian student.

Application Process

What do I need to do to apply?

Applications will be submitted online via the job advert; you will be prompted to create an applicant portal that you will log into to submit your application. Once you login, you will need to complete the online application form which includes:

• a few questions about your consent, eligibility, work location preferences and school;
• a section to indicate which traineeship(s) you are interested in;
• application questions;
• uploading a resume; and
• providing referee details.

For more information visit our information on how to apply.

How long will I have to complete my application?

Once the traineeships are advertised, you will have approximately five weeks to submit your application.

Who will assess my application?

The Program is coordinated by the State Service Management Office (SSMO) within the Department of Premier and Cabinet. SSMO will advertise all the traineeships that are available across the State Service and once the application process is closed, will forward your application onto the workplace that has a traineeship.

Starting your traineeship

If successful, when will I start my traineeship?

We aim to let all applicants know if they have been successful in securing a traineeship before the end of the school year. This will allow successful students to adjust their school subjects (if needed) to align with or support their qualification. All trainees will be onboard and enrolled in their Certificate by January/February 2026.

Can I choose where I want to work?

Within the application form you will have the option to select your preferred work location(s), we would encourage you to consider a number of options that might work for you to give yourself the best chance of gaining a traineeship opportunity.

Can I choose which Agency I want to work in?

Not really. This will depend on the locations you can work in and the preferences you nominate, which will then determine which traineeships are available to you.

Other Queries

How long will does the traineeship go for?

You will be employed with us for the time (estimated in your traineeship agreement) that it will take you to complete your qualification. This will vary depending on the Certificate you are enrolled to complete.

How much will I get paid?

As a trainee, you are paid under the Tasmanian State Service National Training Wage Award. There is a set pay rate for those in grade 11 and a slightly higher rate for those in grade 12. The Tasmanian State Service pays employees on a fortnightly basis directly to your preferred bank account. If you're successful in gaining a traineeship, the agency get in touch with you to get this information and explain the processes.

What would happen if I do not complete my Certificate?

When you are offered a traineeship there is an expectation and agreement that you will complete your qualification and gain your certificate. If you find you are struggling, there are many support options available to you. We will work with you, the training organisation and your school to assist you in completing the course.

I don’t have a resume, where can I get help?

We have some tips on preparing a resume on our Applications Tips page. We also recommend getting support from someone – potentially a family member,or teacher or there are many sample resume templates that you can find online.