Students can complete:
school-based apprenticeship or traineeships (SAT)
external certificate course
These are available to all Year 11 and 12 students, and Year 10 students in certain cases.
School-based apprenticeships and traineeships
Students can enrol in a Certificate III study program as a trainee or apprentice in an area of interest to them. This involves attending 1 day of paid work per week and completing the appropriate training, usually Certificate III level, in most areas of employment.
Students can commence their career path by combining school, paid work and on-the-job training. A SBA or SBT is negotiated between the student, parent/carer, employer, supervising registered training organisation (SRTO) and school to ensure it provides a genuine school-based learning opportunity and forms an appropriate component of an overall school program. On completion of the apprenticeship or traineeship, students are eligible to receive a nationally recognised qualification. Any competencies that are completed prior to leaving at the end of Year 12 can contribute to the Queensland Certificate of Education.
The student's timetable may be adjusted to help them complete their study obligations. Most training takes between 1–2 years to complete. School based apprentices and trainees can also do paid work for 8 hours during school time.
More information:
Structured work placement / work experience
Structured Work Placement is unpaid work that provides students with the opportunity to experience the workplace in an area that they feel they may be interested in pursuing in the future. The experience allows students to explore career paths, gain knowledge, skills and values relevant to the workplace, increase their confidence and make contacts that could lead to future jobs. Students may go out on Structured Work Placement one day per week or for a week at a time. These programs are managed by the Pathways team and all enquiries should be directed to the office.
External certificate courses
Senior students may enrol in Certificate III, or IV level programs at various Institutes of TAFE or other providers. There are 1 and 2 year courses which start at the beginning of Year 11—with some 1 year courses available in Year 12. The student's timetable may be adjusted to help them complete their study obligations.
Students who are interested in certificate training need to:
commit to completing the program
pay all course costs directly to the training organisation
arrange their own transport to and from the external training organisation.
More information:
Internal certificate courses
More information coming soon.
Work experience
Work experience is available for students in Years 10–12 for a maximum of 30 days per calendar year. This opportunity allows students to investigate potential pathways options for their future with the potential to gain professional networks, casual employment, and/or school-based apprenticeships & traineeships.
Year 10 students will have dedicated time at the end of Term 2 each year to participate in a five day work experience block. The College will source a number of placements to have available for students or families are welcome to source their own placements. If self-sourcing, the following forms need to be completed:
Wk 10 Work Experience Agreement 2026 - fillable.pdf
Risk Assessment 2026.pdf
These forms are to then be uploaded via https://ripleyvalleyssc.schoolzineplus.com/form/1209
It's important to note that student assessment cannot be varied due to work placements and all due dates need to fulfilled. Students are welcome to organise self-placements at any time or can speak with the Pathways team about available opportunities. The Pathways team can be found in the back right hand corner of our student library, or our students can submit a support request through their Student SharePoint page. Staff can also be reached via pathways@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au or by phoning 07 3819 5333.