21 Ways To Find An Apprenticeship

Skills Employers Seek

Communication Employers will look at how well you take part in conversations with adults and how you ask questions to draw out appropriate information. They will also confirm your understanding of job instructioins, expecting you to paraphrase what you have been told or what you have read. It is important to complete even the smallest writing tasks well, including accurately taking down phone messages or making entries in this journal.

7 Tips for a Great Placement

1. Diplomacy and honestly

Confirming Your Placement

Mary's teacher said the host employer wanted students to phone a week before the placement was due to start. Mary didn't see the point and was also a little nervous to call.

Pre-Placement Checklist

Read you 'Student Work Placement Journal' from cover to cover Fill in the front cover with all details Plan your placement: How will you get to the work site and home each day? Have you done a practice run and confirmed the cost of fares? Can you comply with the start and finish times everyday? Are there any special clothing/equipment requirements? Is there access to a fridge, shops or canteen for meals? Have you made arrangements for a friend to collect any school work you may need to catch up? Is you mobile phone charged, in credit and do you have your work placement coordinator's number save in memory? Talk over any issues with your parents or school well in advance. Many employers also insist you phone them one week before the placement so you can ask questions and confirm the following: Your planned attendance Your understanding of any instructions such as clothing or start times If the job site or anything else has changed since the original paperwork When you call your employer, have a pen, paper and your Student Placement Record paperwork from school ready, using the record as a checklist Some employers may require you to attend a formal interview or induction session a week or two before you enter the workplace. You will be advised what the requirements are and if you need to book into a session. DO NOT assume it will be at the same workplace location.

Getting to the Front of the Job Queue

Ten practical and proven tips that help you get ahead of the competition for the best jobs. Read on...

Traineeships and Apprenticeships in Plain English

Much has been written about Traineeships and Apprenticeships, so here we try and condense a million pages down to just two. It's a great place to start your research.

Employers' Expectations

We interviewed 400 local employers asking them about jobs for young people. We go into schools sharing this message and tips on how you can meet the employers' expectations, but in case you missed out this is a super short summary...

Employers love VET Students

Subject choices at schools now include Industry Developed, entry level courses that give you a great kickstart to a future career in the field. These courses require you to complete workplacements...

School Based Apprenticeships

Senior year students now have the option of working in a part time traineeship or apprenticeship while completing years 11 and 12... It all counts as part of the HSC, and you get paid too!

Pre-Apprenticeship Courses

Also known as PreVocational courses, these courses are often the best way to get an apprenticeship. Employers are often queued up waiting for the best graduates.

Sydney Group Training Organisations

Group Training Organisations are generally non-profit groups that employ Trainees and Apprentices and on-hire them to employers.

Free driving lessons for learner drivers

The Australian Government has committed $17 million over five years to develop the Keys 2 Drive program on a national basis.

Local Apprenticeship Quantities

There are over 2000 apprenticeships and traineeships filled in the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Penrith region each year.

Work Placement Online with Pathways Connect

Pathways Connect is an online system to manage Work Placements. Teachers can view the calendar and request a week for Work Placements. New Students can register and give us preferences and information so we can seek out the best opportunities for you, and create the legal paperwork you will need before you meet up with your Host Employer.

Interactive Parent Webinar - 8 May 2013

Our good friends from the Sutherland Business Education Network are presenting a free interactive parent information webinar. Peter Slattery – leading educator in Youth & Family Matters is the guest presenter on the topic of “Adolescent Risk Taking”

Western Sydney’s Try’a Skill 24 – 25 June 2013

Western Sydney’s Try’a Skill returns in 2013 at the Kevin Betts Stadium, Mt Druitt.

Maths is Deadly Good Fun!

Maths Deadlys is an exciting partnership which brings Indigenous students from Cranebrook's primary schools together in a high school environment for a team based maths game show event. The students receive support and coaching from parents, community members, teachers and their high school peers to help them prepare for the contest. Deb Summerhayes, Principal of Cranebrook High says “With maths becoming increasingly vital for future careers, the Maths Deadlys program provides a foundation for developing and practicing numeracy skills prior to the students commencing high school. The whole of community involvement has left participants spreading the message that ‘Maths can be FUN!’”. Students work to solve maths problems in teams and earn points during the day towards a trophy for the school. A wide range of organisations donate prizes and guest appearances by Penrith Panther footballers adds to all the excitement. A total of 14 teams participated in the first round of the year with the winning team being from Llandilo Public School. The cheering crowd of students left no doubt that maths can be fun and the students at Cranebrook love the Maths Deadlys. Cranebrook High has an Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) that proactively works with teachers, parents and the broader community to drive student success. “Quite simply students learn best when teachers, parents and the community all work together in a true partnership to support students” said Ian Palmer of the Partnership Broker Program working with the Cranebrook ATP. The next competitive round of the Maths Deadlys will be held in Term 3, with plans underway for UWS trainee teachers to conduct practice events between matches. If the Maths Deadlys keep growing in popularity and support, who knows maybe one day Maths will challenge sport for the biggest crowd.    

What is a Partnership?

Many students learn better by doing. By partnering with industry schools can make projects a fun way students and business can work and learn together. It could be fixing a car, or researching a business challenge... Our role is to form partnerships between schools, parents and the the business community.

Maths Deadlys

Cranebrook High School’s Action Team for Partnerships has successfully completed one of their priority goals for 2012 

Jamison High promotes agricultures next generation

Hundreds of students at Jamison High and York Primary School discovered the fun side of agriculture at the inaugural Jamison Agriculture (JAG) Expo on the 7 th November.

UWS Richmond inspires High School students into IT careers

As stalwart supporters of the local community the Information Technology Campus Support staff at UWS, Richmond, have played an important role in recent years, by inspiring local HSC work placement  students with firsthand knowledge and on the job support, during their course required one week ‘work placements’.

Imagine your future in Print

The printing and graphic communications industry needs people with many different skills and abilities to take on a range of apprenticeships and traineeships. You may be a practical, hands-on type, or you may be a more creative type, or both, but as long as you are well organised and enthusiastic there are numerous opportunities for you.

6 Hot Tips: Public Speaking

GR8 MATES students give a brief talk at the final Celebration of Learning to mark the end of the mentoring journey. Some key points for public speaking were shared by a mentor with Toastmasters experience. They are applicable to so many aspects of life, so are included here.

Master Chefs at RAAF Base

Blaxland High School year 12 VET hospitality students, Sally Rozema and Amber Holmes are two of many students, who are lucky enough to complete their mandatory hospitality ‘work placements’ in such a supportive and instructive setting as the officers mess kitchen at Glenbrook RAAF Base.

WOW Comes To Western Sydney Students

The Department of Education and Communities Western Sydney Region have partnered with Foundation for Young Australians (FYA), Penrith PCYC, Penrith Panthers, Penrith City Council and Mul-T-Security Penrith to deliver an initiative of FYA, Worlds of Work – WOW.