By connecting with EPIC Assist while you’re still at school through a traineeship or apprenticeship, you can prepare for the transition to employment.
We support students with disability
As the experts in disability employment, we help students with a disability, injury, mental health condition, or health condition find, prepare for, and maintain meaningful work at all stages of their employment journey.
For those looking to get a head start in their career, we can assist with sourcing school-based traineeships and apprenticeships. Traineeships and apprenticeships consist of 8 hours of paid work each week (usually during school hours), combined with a theory component related to the qualification. We typically offer assistance with traineeships and apprenticeships to Year 12 students.
A school-based traineeship combines vocational training with paid work in a real workplace, while you complete your secondary schooling.
Depending on what you are studying, a traineeship may take between one and three years to complete. We’ve helped students with disability complete traineeships in a range of vocational areas, including:
- business
- hospitality
- retail
- information technology
- tourism
- health
- horticulture.
During your school-based traineeship, you will complete 50 days of paid employment for each year of full-time training.
You will continue to attend school as usual throughout your traineeship. However, at some point during your studies, a component of your paid employment and/or training will become part of your school timetable. While you are completing your employment, some work and training will happen outside of school hours, and some work and training will happen inside school hours.
When you finish your traineeship, you will graduate with a formal qualification in your chosen vocational area. Depending on your traineeship, you may complete it while you are still enrolled in school, or you may continue your traineeship after leaving school.
Get in touch with us today to find the right traineeship for you.
A school-based apprenticeship combines paid work with structured training for a trade in a real workplace, while you complete your secondary schooling.
Apprenticeships generally take between three and four years to complete. You can choose to undertake an apprenticeship in a wide range of trade-based industries, including:
- construction
- automotive
- painting
- plumbing
- electrical
- engineering
- cabinet making
- hairdressing
- cooking
- jewellery.
You will be paid to work in your chosen trade, whilst also attending regular, structured off-the-job training. This paid employment and training happens during school hours, but also spills over outside of school hours into weekends and holidays.
When you finish your apprenticeship, you will become a qualified tradesperson. Your employer may agree to continue your apprenticeship once you leave school.
Get in touch with us today to find the right apprenticeship for you.
Why study a school-based traineeship or apprenticeship?
A school-based traineeship or apprenticeship is a great way to earn money and prepare for life outside of school while you study. You’ll gain a nationally accredited qualification and increase your odds of scoring a job when you finish school.
With over 600 qualifications to choose from, there is a diverse range of industries and careers to choose from. We’ll help you connect with a real workplace in your industry, where you will gain real-world experience and mentorship while also getting paid for your time. This flexibility is perfect for students who prefer hands-on learning to traditional schooling pathways.
Your training can contribute toward your Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). This gives you a boost on your high-school graduation.
EPIC doesn’t believe in a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Instead, we meet with you to understand what career you’re looking for. We then work to connect you with local, like-minded businesses.
Once you start your traineeship or apprenticeship, we’ll work with you one-on-one in the workplace or classroom for as long as you need our support. We understand that everyone has different ways of studying, learning, and working. We’ll be there to help you find a study plan that works and support you to complete your hands-on experience in an environment that understands your unique requirements.
If you need help finding work once you finish your traineeship or apprenticeship, we can help you through the Disability Employment Services (DES) program to find and keep a job you love.
EPIC has given me more support than I ever thought possible. They have been there for me in so many ways, every step of the way, making difficult tasks seem easy. Giving me confidence, assistance, training and respect. Thank you EPIC for going above and beyond in training me for not only employment but for overall work, life success. – John, Logan
You’re eligible for our support to complete a school-based traineeship or apprenticeship if you:
- have a disability, injury, mental health condition or health condition
- are over 14 years of age and not yet finished school
- can sustain work for at least 8 hours per week
- are an Australian resident
- live in one of our service locations.
If you are still unsure if you qualify, please give us a call or visit one of our offices to talk about your individual circumstances and how you can access our support.
Depending on what you are studying, you may have to pay a contribution toward your school-based traineeship or apprenticeship. EPIC Assist can help cover the cost of:
- travel
- workwear and equipment
- study materials
- some workplace modifications.
EPIC Assist is the expert in disability employment
For over 30 years, we have been helping people with a disability, injury, mental health condition, or health condition prepare for, find, and maintain meaningful employment.
We believe your disability should never stand in the way of finding meaningful employment. We use our expert knowledge and experience in disability employment to help students and job seekers connect with workplaces that understand them and their disability.
EPIC offers a number of other opportunities for students, depending on where you’re at in your career journey:
School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) with NDIS >
Disability Employment Services (DES) >
Everything’s stacking up for Brayden at IKEA
Over the last six months, Brayden has been completing the work experience component of his Certificate II in Retail Services at IKEA, North Lakes, and it’s amazing what he has overcome in just a few months.