This SBAT pathways podcast series is brought to you by the New South Wales Department of Education. It explores the journey and pathway of high school students who decided to incorporate Vocational Education subjects in their final years at school and the thoughts and insights on making the decision .
We ask questions on how they made their decision and how did they actually incorporate the apprenticeship or the traineeship into their HSC studies, their individual programs, the reason why they chose this pathway. We finish up with their suggestions to other students who are interested in starting their career while still at school and earning some money on the way.
Join us in hearing student insights and thoughts on the role Vocational Education and Training in school play in delivering skills for the workforce and pathways to success.
For further information on NSW School based apprenticeships and traineeships go to: https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/career-and-study-pathways/school-based-apprenticeships-and-traineeships.
This SBAT pathways podcast series is brought to you by the New South Wales Department of Education. It explores the journey and pathway of high school students who decided to incorporate Vocational Education subjects in their final years at school and the thoughts and insights on making the decision .
We ask questions on how they made their decision and how did they actually incorporate the apprenticeship or the traineeship into their HSC studies, their individual programs, the reason why they chose this pathway. We finish up with their suggestions to other students who are interested in starting their career while still at school and earning some money on the way.
Join us in hearing student insights and thoughts on the role Vocational Education and Training in school play in delivering skills for the workforce and pathways to success.
For further information on NSW School based apprenticeships and traineeships go to: https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/career-and-study-pathways/school-based-apprenticeships-and-traineeships.
Hello and welcome everybody today. We chatting with Landry brown Lennar is currently doing as part of his HSC in year 12. I certificate three in retail, working at Metro train Sydney. So he's speaking to[inaudible] about why he made that decision to do a school based apprenticeship, how hard it has been or how easy it has been. We speak to Larry about how he incorporates the HSC subjects, the vocational education and training and his apprenticeship work, what his plans are for the future, how his program is individualized to meet the needs of his school, his training, and also his work. And what some of the thoughts are that he's thinking of doing when he finished his book, let's make it start with this. Larry. So before we get started on, can you tell me a little bit about that?
Speaker 2:Well, first of all, I'm Leonard ground. Um, I am 17 year old. I'm 17 years old this year. And, um, you know, um, I enjoy playing rugby. I enjoy playing video games, but I also enjoy, um, going to work, uh, and Ts, uh, Metro transcending.
Speaker 1:Right. Okay. So your currently in year 11. So can you talk to me about that decision to undertake a school based apprenticeship? When did all that come about from,
Speaker 2:I first I never really know about it. Um, the school had a lot of help in making these decisions. You know, Ms. Bowman mockeries advise a teacher, she did send out a lot of different kinds of pathways I could have taken. And I thought, you know, I might as well just go attend one of these information nights, you know, see how it is. I went into the information nights, not really keen, or I wouldn't say keen, but I wasn't intending to go into a Pacific, you know, business.
Speaker 1:You turned up to the, you talked to the information now and they started to talk about school-based apprentices. So how did you get the school-based apprenticeship with Metro trains? How did that all come about
Speaker 2:Ms. Bowman? Um, the careers of, as a teacher, she did have a lot of, um, influence and help to help me get into it. She helped me apply and also had a lot of help from my parents. So, yeah.
Speaker 1:So in your situation, um, there was already an available trainee-ships available at Metro trains, so you didn't have to go out and find an employer and then come back to the school. Yeah,
Speaker 2:That's correct. So I was able to, um, you know, have those options really, um, available there for me already.
Speaker 1:So can you tell me a little bit about what does a school-based apprenticeship program look like for you? Because school-based apprenticeships, uh, all they're not, you know, necessarily all run the same in your case lottery, how does it work?
Speaker 2:Um, so on a Wednesday, every week we go in for a work experience kind of component. And then every once a month on a Monday, we did on the theory side. So like the TAFE qualification kind of side of things on a Monday. So yeah, that's basically what we do at MTS. So yeah,
Speaker 1:You go to school on Monday, Tuesdays, Thursday, Fridays, normally Wednesday is your work day, but once a month, your, instead of going to school on the Monday, you go to like a theory training or go to a training with organization. Okay. So how does that impact on your schoolwork on that Monday? How do you manage the schoolwork on the Monday?
Speaker 2:Um, managing schoolwork, you know, is really important to be organized. Um, you know, that you're not going to be there on Wednesday, or you're not going to be there on a specific day. So I think planning ahead, trying to get in, trying to get to your teachers, asking for that work, it's really important. And, um, that's something that I've had to learn to do throughout doing this as per program.
Speaker 1:Okay. So you just go up to your teacher or your teacher is, is comfortable and okay with the fact that your, um, your, you know, that you've got to be at work on a Wednesday and that once a month on a Monday, that you'll be somewhere else.
Speaker 2:Um, teachers are really understanding and I'm kind of grateful for that because yeah, it makes it easier for us to just get work and let them know we're not going to be here. And, yeah.
Speaker 1:Right. Because the idea is that you are doing this school-based apprenticeship as one of your units counting towards your HSC and your year 12 completion. Is that right?
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's correct. So actually for, for me, um, the school-based Korean, um, traineeship, the expert program, it actually counts as a four on four units towards my agency, which is pretty cool. So I have that, I have two units for theory, and then I have a two units for like a practical kind of work experience.
Speaker 1:And so what are the subjects that you're doing, uh, for year 11 and year 12?
Speaker 2:Um, right now I'm doing English math, I'm doing some SLR, which is like a sports kind of, um, mere subject. And then I'm doing some legal studies.
Speaker 1:I know that in a number of cases, in a lot of cases, um, people decide to drop dropping unit in regards to, you know, what they're finally going to study for the year 12. Have you had any thoughts or is that an option for you with the school-based apprenticeship program?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so it's been an option for me because, um, you know, I've had that I've had, um, SLR as like a non HR kind of subject work could, you know, literally just drop it and make much easier for me to go get work and then catch up on it. So, yeah.
Speaker 1:So you do have that option that if you do need a job subject, you can still do your school based apprenticeship and still do, um, continue onto your HSC, you know, um, and do your work at, and also your, your school-based work as well.
Speaker 2:It was really important to know that the SBA program does go towards your HSC, which is a really important kind of factor that should be in there.
Speaker 1:Larry, what your, so you're doing this course, you doing is your school. So you're still in a, a school environment, but you go out and you do some external studies. You also go out as part of your school, curriculum and program for your HSC that you undertake paid work at least once a week with, within the Metro trains. I mean, what's that like to have a job and make it as part of your school? How does that feel? You
Speaker 2:Know, it was really different office. Um, cause I did have work experience at MCAS and going into an office kind of environment. It was really different, but to be able to do for school, I thought it was, you know, a good opportunity. What
Speaker 1:Does a certificate three business traineeship involve you doing
Speaker 2:Well? Uh, MTS, we've been doing a lot of admin kind of stuff, you know, dealing with spreadsheets and databases and yeah, that's, that's a lot of stuff there, there has been a few units with customer service and we have got to go out onto the station where we have been able to interact with other, um, with other customers.
Speaker 1:Why did you decide to do a certificate three in business as part of your 11? Where did that come from?
Speaker 2:I thought it was one of the, one of, it was like a good opportunity to be able to do more than one thing. You know, I was still able to play footy. I was still able to do all the things alive, but at the same time it was getting that real work experience. I was getting, you know, all this stuff that someone that didn't do a program on
Speaker 1:The it's a lottery. What are your plans after you finish year 12? What are your thoughts? What do you think that you might do?
Speaker 2:Um, hopefully after year 12 on able to learn a full time job with MTS, which is the company I'm doing the escrow program with, which is, um, you know, a higher possibility of doing because we are coming through the ranks. And so, yeah, that's obviously one option. Um, I would like to continue on studying. Um, probably go further in, into, um, business itself also did, um, have like plans for our religious leader to become like a missionary for a church, uh, which was, um, uh, first was a big, hard decision to like home because I wanted to pursue a SBA program after, after year 12, but also had that kind of, um, you know, commitment to make, which is, you know,
Speaker 1:Sorry, you were talking about the fact that you, from a cultural point of view or religious point of view that you feel that you have this calling or a passion or a need to give back. And you've also, um, certificate three, a business traineeship program that you're also looking at saying, um, I'd like to continue that and I'd like to do that, but I'm probably, I, I like to make the comment is the fact is that the, and actually the question is the things that you're learning as part of this school-based apprenticeship and Trent, all this traineeship that you're doing, would you then be able to maybe transfer those skills in terms of moving into a different type of Curry?
Speaker 2:I, 100% agree with that comment because, you know, nowadays is getting really technical and, um, it has a lot to do and work nowadays has a lot to do with computers, you know? And so while we're doing this business kind of, um, business create through MTS, you know, doing all that kind of like spreadsheets kind of stuff, databases, data analysis, all that kind of stuff, you know, it will make it easier to pursue, um, you know, another career somewhere else. Right.
Speaker 1:So it also gives you that, um, the foundational work skills, you know, like how to work as part of it. Yeah. Yeah. And so have you found that that has helped you, have you found that you're a different person between when you started the traineeship and two already in regards to, um, maybe your workability or some of the skills that you've got?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I would definitely say that that was, um, these are the ways the aspire program. Those are ways that helped me, you know, become probably a more independent worker work. So I'm not relying on a managers a lot. Um, not to say that that's, my program has helped me, you know, to become more, yeah, just more independent as a worker.
Speaker 1:Right. So you're more independent. And your, you sound confident Flannery in regards to the work that you're actually doing, would you say that confidence has played a factor in that?
Speaker 2:I think the confidence does come when you're, when you're meeting new people and, and you're trying to, you know, trying to fit in, I guess. So, yeah.
Speaker 1:So you were saying that your parents were encouraging you to do the school-based apprenticeship. Had they heard about school-based apprenticeships and traineeships?
Speaker 2:Um, um, before, before going into year 11, we were looking at, um, my mom and dad, we're looking at those kinds of experiences and they would come up to me and say, oh, how would you like to do this kind of, uh, this kind of program, this kind of program. And yeah, like I said before, I wasn't really clean until they just kind of asked me to come along into come along to one of the information.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So did you always have plans to go to year 12? Yeah,
Speaker 2:That was always one of my goals, you know, I'm always wanting to complete year 12. Um, my dad and mom did so. Yeah. I just wanted to, you know, help them all, not really help them, but probably fulfill like a family kind of thing. You know what I mean?
Speaker 1:Yeah. So there was an expectation and that was no problem for you to actually go along there. Okay. So you always knew that you were going to do year 12, you were just trying to work out where you were actually going to go with it. So how does your school friends and all that feel about you doing this sort of, um, program at the school? How do they feel about it?
Speaker 2:Well, I wouldn't say the jealous, but I think the more, unlike the proud scale, you know, I had heaps of friends inside school and even outside of school comment that I'm doing like a really good job keeping there. And I think that's one of the main factors of why I'm still in the program. Cause you know, I've had that kind of support kind of unit and yeah.
Speaker 1:So what advice would you give to any parents that are actually listening at the moment in regards to the school-based apprenticeship programs?
Speaker 2:Well, I'd just like to say that, um, though there are other options, you know, you need, the university is obviously one of those options, but you know, you don't have to, your'e just make a career off of, you know, just go into uni, but you can do these extra programs. You're able to get into big companies like MTS and even other companies that you are, you are starting from the bottom of the ranks, but you're starting in high school, which is like, I would like to say an early footstep to brighter future. You know what I mean? So I would, yeah, that is something.
Speaker 1:And what about to, um, anybody, any of the students that are thinking about whether or not I should do an ex-pat program or, you know, if it's going to be too difficult or how do you work out? You know, when are you go to work and everything like that, what would your advice or your suggestions to them be
Speaker 2:Physicians to all the students that they would to be, you know, just have a look, you know, if you don't want to do it fair enough. But I suggest maybe going to a few information nights. Cause if you're like me, you wouldn't have wanted to do, you wouldn't have wanted to do an SBA program until obviously I went to the information nine, you know, um, from there I was like, yeah, this is the place I want to be. This is something I want to do.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And is it easy to mix in the traineeship with your school? Like does that,
Speaker 2:Um, at first it was really hard to kind of get used to the work and then on going to school and then trying to catch up on all the work. But as soon as you get used to and get into a routine, um, it makes it really, you know, easier. It makes it easier to be able to do this.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And I suppose the money helps, I would say, um, you know, I mean that's all that, you know, a main component of it now is that employers are looking for people who are work ready and have some underpinning foundational skills in customer service in how to work as a team, you know, the basics of how to work. And you're now getting that through your while you're still at school. So you, as you were saying, you had that really good headstart in regards to entering into your career and the school-based apprenticeship being a certificate three in business allows you to go in so many different places. Doesn't it. Can I ask you the question regarding, um, people talk about the stressor of, um, school kids, you know, 16, 15, 16, 17, 18 year olds, you know, being put out at the workplace, you know, adding that stress to their year 11 and 12. Did you want to make a comment on how that is for you in your own personal journey?
Speaker 2:I would recommend doing the expert program. I would say, you know, my experience at MTS has been a really good time. You know, you got, like I said before, um, you do, you do get that, um, experience. You do get that money. You still, you still do your schoolwork, which is a good thing, you know, and I've thought all of these and all of these factors are, is just a good, you know, it's just a good way to, um, to go towards, you know, um, solid, you may not get that opportunity other places, you know what I mean? So I thought, you know, it would be this aspire program.
Speaker 1:Okay. So it sounds to me like that you have that flexibility that I keep thinking that you're talking about the work and everything, but I'm going, but if you weren't doing that, if you weren't doing that, those units you'd be doing other units, which would be just as demanding. Um, the way I look at it is that this is just another subject at school, but it's a subject that, that real life, you know, we talk about, you know, w what am I going to use this? You know,
Speaker 2:Um, I mean, it is, it can get pretty stressful at times when you do have work to do, and you do have the swim and then you have to go to, or you do have a test or something, and you have to study, but first you're organized and you do have those good organizational skills. It is, it, it does make a lot easier. Um, you know, you can, um, if you do have a test, you can go up to a teacher and rearrange it. If not, um, I was just blessed that my, uh, my work is pretty flexible. So I am able to do a test on one day, maybe move the work day another day, and then just get back into the same routine. And, you know, I was, I was looking into, um, the SBA program and, um, I was just, you know, those, the same kind of factors are same kind of units and on components that we were doing, and also, you know, doing, um, doing a expert program where I'm doing all of the kind of stuff, all of the studies, same stuff that we're doing at school, or putting into an actual real life experience, like work experience that will be on way more beneficial than maybe just doing, doing a normal subject at school. So,
Speaker 1:Yeah, because I think it's really important that, you know, um, there's, there's so many aspects to school-based apprenticeships and traineeships that are really interesting. Um, one of the major takeaways that I'm getting from, um, having this honor of interviewing, um, quite a number of you guys is the fact that you're really positive about it. You're all saying, well, I'm starting on my work journey now, but it doesn't mean I'm not doing my school and I've got the best of, you know, the best of both worlds happening at the moment. So that's a great thing, Larry, thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. It's been such a lovely, lovely guy, such a lovely person. Um, and we do wish you all the best. Um, so, um, let us know how you going, um, make sure that you let us know, cause I know people are going through, how did he go? What did he do? Did he get the job? Did he go on always going to be ongoing, but until we speak again, once again, thank you very much. And thank you to the audience for listening and we'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 3:[inaudible]
Speaker 1:So thanks everybody for joining us for that podcast. I hope you enjoy it. If you'd like some more information, you could go to the website as bad in new south wales.info or search for the department of education, new south Wales school-based apprenticeship programs. And until I see you again, take care,
Speaker 3:[inaudible].