A day in the life of an SBT

School Based Traineeships

The current skills shortage has made employers aware of the importance of planning their future recruitment and school-based traineeships are an ideal strategy to do this.

School-based traineeships provide students with opportunities to work and study. The program starts students on their careers while still at school. Even if they decide on an alternative career, they will have achieved valuable transferable skills. For employers, it is an opportunity to try before they buy and feel like they are contributing to the development of today’s youth.

School-based traineeships have many models to meet the requirements of the employer, the student and school. Skills Strategies has been delivering school-based traineeships since they commenced in 1997. The model we commenced with and the one we have found most successful has been 3 days at school and 2 days at work. However, we have also successfully delivered a 1 day per week workplace model. The success factors in an SBT depend on the collaboration between all parties and the preparation of the students prior to entering into the employment agreement. The difference between a school-based traineeship and part-time work is the investment the employer and the training organisation put into place to develop the skills and abilities of the trainee. To get an idea of what it is like to be a school-based trainee, read about the week of Samantha.

Balancing Act: A Week in the Life of Samantha, the Stars Cinemas Retail Trainee

Introduction

The world of retail is a dynamic one, and when combined with the rigors of school-based training, it becomes a true balancing act. Meet Samantha, a determined retail trainee at Stars Cinemas, who juggles her responsibilities at Ocean Beach High School and her shifts at the cinema. Samantha was initially reluctant to take the traineeship position because she didn’t see herself working in retail. But she can now see that the skills she is learning are applicable to multiple industries. And what is more after talking to her manager and the HR team, she can see there are plenty of opportunities at Stars that she previously had no idea about.

Monday: Embracing the Classroom

Samantha's week kicks off with four days of friends and study at Ocean Beach High School. She has noticed that since she has become a school-based trainee, she is more willing to dive into lessons, assist teachers, and interact with students differently. The relationship she has with her work peers is very different to those with her friends. She finds she tends to apply what she has learned at work to her classroom experience. She finds that there is now a sense of the purpose behind her learning.

Tuesday: Transition to the Cinema

With the classroom behind her for the day, Samantha steps into the world of Stars Cinemas. Tuesdays are special, as they are Pensioner Tuesdays—a day of discounted tickets for the elderly patrons. Samantha's warm smile and efficient service make her an asset on these bustling days, as she helps cinemagoers find the perfect showtime and makes their experience memorable. Some of the regulars don’t have much else in their lives and Samantha feels important when she gets told she has made their day.

Wednesday: Lessons Learned

Back in the classroom, Samantha reflects on her experiences at the cinema. She realizes that the skills she hones during her retail shifts—like effective communication and customer service—are transferrable to her interactions with students and teachers. Wednesdays become a bridge that connects her two worlds, allowing her to grow holistically.

Thursday: Building Specific Skills

On Thursday Samantha off timetable and doesn’t attend her normal school subjects. It is when she studies her retail competencies. This may be in the training room at work, it may be online in the school library, or it may be from home. It just depends what unit is involved and what the time commitment is going to be. Jayne is her trainer and provides individual coaching and organises sessions with other trainees as well. Working effectively in a team and building customer relationships and loyalty were enjoyable but expected. But Samantha didn’t know she would also be learning about using online tools and setting up displays. Samantha thought she knew all about social media, but she now has a different perspective.   Samantha is looking forward to doing the RSA and coffee units but they come later in the course.

Friday: The Pre-Weekend Push

As the school week draws to a close, Samantha wraps up her classroom commitments and mentally prepares for the weekend. Fridays are often a day when she thinks about how different work and school are. At work she is treated like an adult who contributes to the work team. She has responsibilities; she is being developed……and knows that she is becoming “more mature” as her mum says.

Saturday: Lights, Camera, Action

Saturday afternoons take Samantha back to Stars Cinemas, where the energy is electric. This is peak movie-watching time, and Samantha's efficiency shines as she handles ticket sales, assists with concessions, and ensures moviegoers have a delightful experience. The cinema becomes her stage, where her retail skills take center stage.

Sunday: A Day to Recharge

Sundays are sacred—a day to recharge and rejuvenate. Samantha spends this time friends, engaging in conversation and activities that fuel her passion and energy. She is starting to develop a group of new friends from work. They get free tickets and preview movies. She is becoming quite a movie buff.

Conclusion: An artistic balancing act

The life of Samantha is an exciting adventure with many roles and achievements. From the classroom to the cinema, from school-based training to retail service, she demonstrates the art of balance. At first it was a bit overwhelming but now she enjoys the challenge and the change and the feeling of achievement. And what is more, the work and retail study Samantha does count as four school subjects over the two years of school.