A NSW School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship (SBAT) allows students to start a traineeship or apprenticeship while still at school and the Bucketts Way Neighbourhood Group has welcomed Gloucester High School students, Chloe Rozynski and Brooke Turner to the team.

Chloe will be working closely with disability support workers and participants while gaining certificate III in Individual Support - Disability. Brooke has chosen to undertake certificate III in Community Services and will be involved in our Emergency Relief program, community events and administration.

Human Resources officer, Jess Anniwell welcome the new students knowing first hand what it's like to complete SBAT herself.

"Finishing school with a qualification already under my belt was a great head start on other school leavers," Jess said. ''It was also great to be able to earn some money while learning. It's an alternative career pathway and a foot in the door to the work force that not everyone is aware of."

Training Coordinator, Erin Lute also firmly believes in the value of the program.

"Being a part of the SBAT initiative over the last four years has been incredible for the organisation as well as the students. It is great to have that young person's perspective when we are developing our programs. Having a young person on board really helps us engage with the younger demographic of the community. It's also another way that we can give back to and connect with the community, and as recruitment exercise we've gained some great employees."

The program is competency-based and flexible. Participating students spend one school day per week in paid employment, gaining hands-on experience in the workplace whilst completing the practical components of their course. The on-the-job and off-the-job training undertaken by the students contributes to their HSC marks, with the students completing the theory-side of their traineeship by the end of their HSC year.

It means that students wishing to pursue an apprenticeship after school can jump straight in as a second year apprentice, giving them a 12-month head start on their career.

Chloe and Brooke takes the total of SBAT participants Bucketts Way Neighbourhood Group to 12 since the starting the program in 2015. The organisation hopes to continue its involvement with the program, and urges interested students to talk to their careers adviser about their career goals and to consider a SBAT as a career pathway as they prepare for year 11 and 12.