Get paid to study

The Vocational Pathway of the Riverina Teaching Hub Program supports students who will enter Year 10 or 11 in 2024 across participating NSW public schools in the Riverina region.

To be eligible you must:

• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• be entering Year 10 or 11 in 2024, in a participating NSW public high school
• intend to complete a Certificate III in School Based Education Support through TAFE West and meet their entry requirements
• be willing to work as a trainee one day per week in a participating NSW public primary school in the Riverina region
• be a current student at a Riverina Teaching Hub Program partner school: Corowa High School, Kooringal High School, Mount Austin High School, Murray High School or Wagga Wagga High School.

Successful participants will complete a block of unpaid work experience in Term 4, 2023 and begin their school based traineeship (SBAT), as part of the Certificate III in School Based Education Support, in Term 1, 2024.

A school based traineeship (SBAT) enables students to study a vocational qualification while working toward their HSC.

TAFE West is the tertiary provider for the Certificate III in School Based Education Support. TAFE West is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), authorised to deliver the training.

Upon entry into the Certificate III, all participants will have a personalised training plan created that details the required core and elective units of competency, as specified in the NSW Board of Studies, and includes a schedule of school, study and work commitments. This resource will be shared between the participant, their parent/carer, their high school and TAFE West.

As part of the traineeship, participants will undertake 100 days of work as a trainee in a partnering NSW local public school. This will be a combination of unpaid work experience in Term 4, 2023 (with additional blocks negotiated between the school and the participant to make up the mandatory 100 days of work placement), as well as paid work as a trainee one day per week from Term 1, 2024, for the duration of the two-year program.

As a trainee, participants will benefit from gaining real classroom experience from day one, working closely with teachers to support student learning and classroom activities.

Students who complete the Vocational Pathway will not gain an ATAR.

The program is aimed at students who will enter Year 10 and 11 in 2024 at a partnering Riverina high school, and are interested in pursuing a non-ATAR pathway to take their first steps towards a career in education.

Up to 20 positions are available to support local high school students in the Riverina region to complete their Certificate III in School Based Education Support.

Partner schools for the Vocational Pathway of the Riverina Teaching Hub Program include:

• Corowa High School
• Kooringal High School
• Mount Austin High School
• Murray High School
• Wagga Wagga High School

Successful participants from these schools will be matched to a local partner NSW public primary school for their work placement.

Participants are required to complete their traineeship, including a minimum of 100 days of trainee placement, by 31 December of their HSC year. Both part-time work and the study component of their Certificate III will contribute to their HSC.

Participants must complete the required formal study component of their course delivered by TAFE West by the end of Term 3 of their HSC year. This ensures participants receive appropriate credit for the HSC and have time to prepare for, and sit, the optional HSC exam.

For students in Year 10 to Year 12 in NSW, vocational education and training (VET) is ‘dual accredited’, meaning students receive recognition towards their school qualification (Record of School Achievement or HSC) and a nationally-recognised VET qualification (Certificate or Statement of Attainment). The SBAT will contribute six units of credit towards the HSC as a non-ATAR subject.

As part of the Vocational Pathway of the Riverina Teaching Hub Program, participants will be complete a Certificate III in School Based Education Support from TAFE West, which is fee-free for participants through the Smart and Skilled Program.

From Term 1, 2024, participants will commence paid employment as a trainee in a NSW public school, one day per week for the duration of the two-year program.

Traineeships, including school based apprenticeships/traineeships, can be cancelled at any time by the mutual consent of the parties (the participant, the NSW public school they are matched with and the Riverina Teaching Hub Program).

School based trainees whose contracts are cancelled prior to the completion of their HSC may be able to continue their study in the HSC VET course they have been undertaking as part of their traineeship. However, cancellation before completion of the HSC may impact the HSC unit credit available from the Industry Based Learning Board Endorsed Course.

For more information on school based traineeships, please visit the SBAT FAQs webpage.

Successful applicants are required to sign a Riverina Teaching Hub Program (Vocational Pathway) agreement with the department, committing them to:

• accepting an appointment as a trainee (on a part-time basis) in a NSW public school, for the duration of their school based traineeship program
• satisfying the department’s recruitment procedures and requirements
• meeting milestones during the Riverina Teaching Hub Program to demonstrate school based education support capabilities.

Applications for the Vocational Pathway are now closed. Please subscribe to the mailing list for future program updates.

Stage 1. Submit an online application

Stage 2. Assessment and selection

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview with a panel of principals from our partner schools. If successful in the interview assessment, the participant will be matched to a local partnering NSW primary school for their work experience placement.

Stage 3. Probity checks

The department will conduct a referee and criminal records check. If you are over 18, you will need to complete a Working With Children Check. If you are successful in all three stages, you will be conditionally accepted into the program for 2024, pending your enrolment with TAFE West.

Stage 4. Apply to TAFE West

Participants are required to submit a formal enrolment into the Certificate III School Based Education Support with TAFE West.

Stage 5. Formal acceptance into the program

Applicants who are successful in all four stages will receive a formal acceptance into the Vocational Pathway of the Riverina Teaching Hub Program by October, 2023.

For your application to be considered, you must provide:

• current resume, which includes confirmation of enrolment in a participating school
• cover letter, which describes why you would like to study a Certificate III School Based Education Support
• latest school report and/or NAPLAN results
• contact details of two referees.

The online application system will not allow you to submit your application until all the required fields have been completed. Once you click on the submit button, a confirmation email will automatically be sent to the email address you provided as part of the application process. Please keep a copy of that email for your records.

If you did not receive a confirmation email, please email teachinghubprogram@det.nsw.edu.au.

Yes, both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified of the outcome via email once the selection process has been completed.

If you change your contact details after the closing date, please email your updated contact details to teachinghubprogram@det.nsw.edu.au.

Some of the key roles and responsibilities of a trainee include:

• supporting teachers in the delivery of lessons
• assisting in providing individualised, adjusted and extension activities for students
• participating in a variety of extra-curricular activities
• assisting at school events, including incursions and excursions
• various administrative tasks including preparing and setting out learning resources, displaying artwork in the classroom, ordering supplies and sorting/organising resources and equipment.

Participants will complete unpaid work experience at the local NSW public school they are matched with in Term 4, 2023. This will enable participants to build professional relationships and experience working in a school environment before commencing their formal traineeship. Work experience will contribute to the number of work placement days required as part of the school based traineeship.

From Term 1, 2024, participants will commence paid employment as a trainee in a NSW public school, one day per week.

Participants will be matched to a NSW public primary school within their local area to complete the traineeship.

We will look at all options when placing participants into a school as a trainee. Participants will be able to contact their school principal or the program team at teachinghubprogram@det.nsw.edu.au to discuss further.

Participants who enter the Vocational Pathway of the Riverina Teaching Hub Program are employed as school based trainees under the C2022-05 Crown Employees (Public Sector- Salaries 2022) Award. Trainee salaries are determined based on the student's current year of schooling. Students in Year 11 are paid $12.39 per hour and students in Year 12 are paid $13.53 per hour.

The Crown Employees (Public Service Training Wage) Reviewed Award 2008 is currently under review. A Year 10 salary is expected to be available from October, 2023.

As part of the Riverina Teaching Hub Program, the department will pay program participants a trainee salary. Before commencing in the program, participants are required to provide their Tax File Number to the program team. Applicants can apply for a Tax File Number either online or by paper depending on their circumstances.

Participants must declare all income received during the financial year in their tax return, which includes salary as a trainee. For more information, please visit the ATO webpage.

Applicants are encouraged to seek financial advice for their own personal circumstances.