Pathway Planning: Examining the benefits and outcomes of a Traineeship and Apprenticeship Pathway Program

Martin Stalker

University of Tasmania

• Why Pathway Planning? - Background

• Pathway Plan Process and structure

• Traineeship and Pathway Planning program overview

• Research Results

• Under 3%

Grade 12 Top

• Grade 10 Top

Why Pathway Planning?

• Retention rates in Tasmania are nearly 29% below the mainland levels

• Currently only 14 % of jobs in Australia do not require a post Grade 10 school qualification

• In Tasmania only 47% of our workforce are currently employed at this level

• Legislation and Funding to support the concept

What is a Pathway Plan ?

Grade 8 Plan

Grade 9 Plan

Grade 10 Plan

2009 High School Leavers (Post Grade 10)

Government High Schools

Academy PolytechnicWork

UniversityVocational Uni ??????

???

???

TAPP 2009 Program

• Construction & Joinery• Metals• Hair & Beauty• Hospitality• Cookery• Automotive

• Motorbody• Business Administration• Children Services• Enrolled Nursing• Agriculture• Tourism/Retail

Choice of 14 Course Options

Intense Short Courses

Full Year Courses

• Electro technology • Civil and Mechanical Drafting

What it is significant about the TAPP program

• Complete Grade 10

• Polytechnic Qualifications

• Workplace opportunity

• “Hands on” Learning style

How does the TAPP school year look ?

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Term 1 Term 2 Term 3

What is the weekly structure

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

TAP program

How Long

Polytechnic Commitment

Work Experience

Applied Learning - 3 days (within the High School)

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Sea FM

Bruce Gowans

Polytechnic(Devonport)

Polytechnic(Burnie)

Children ServicesTechnical training

HairdressingTechnical training

AutomotiveWork placement

Business Admin Work placement

Enrolled Nursing Work placement

City Medical Practice

Full class size (example) - 18

MondayWork Placements - 3 Monday

Polytechniccommitments

-3Monday class size due to non

classroom learning would be - 12

How does one day in a TAPP week look ?

Work Placements

Technical Training

Core curriculum delivered

A typical TAPP day

TAPP Growth

1 school1 course option12 students2,300 hours

2 schools3 course options36 students7,000 hours

9 schools9 course options136 students25,000 hours

2006 2007 2008 2009

11 schools14 course options213 students41,500 hours

TAFE/Polytechnic training has changed

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Tech

Tech

TechUnits of Attainment

Occupational, Health, Safety and Welfare unit

Domestic switching systems level 1

Cable identification unit Lighting principles unitVarious units to complete first year

Units are identified for completion during TAPP program

its ideal now for TAPP

Previous Structure

Technical training is in a “units” structure

How does this influence the TAP program ?

Working on site +

What stage could a TAPP student be at in their apprenticeship/traineeship ?

First Year Apprentice Units requirement

Units already completed

Units needed to finish first year

During TAPP these units may be completed

Employer will decide about who to employ

TAPP Numbers

Const & Joinery

Metals

Hair & Beauty

Hospitality

Cookery

Automotive

Motorbody

Children Services

Enrolled Nursing

Agriculture

Intense Courses

Electrotechnology

Drafting

Year Courses

TAPP Numbers

Const & Joinery 24

Metals 20

Hair & Beauty 24

Hospitality 18

Cookery 21

Automotive 23

Motorbody 12

Children Services 24

Enrolled Nursing 9

Agriculture 11

Intense Courses

Electrotechnology 12

Drafting 15

Total Student Numbers

Year Courses

TAPP Numbers

Const & Joinery 3 24

Metals 4 20

Hair & Beauty 1 24

Hospitality 4 18

Cookery 1 21

Automotive 3 23

Motorbody 0 12

Children Services 2 24

Enrolled Nursing 2 9

Agriculture 0 11

Intense Courses

Electrotechnology ?? 12

Drafting ?? 15

Total Student Numbers

High School Numbers

Year Courses

High School variety in course distribution

Outcomes ?

• Anecdotal - Parent/Employer/Teacher feedback

• Attitudinal

• Work placement

• Academic

• The TAP Program has given us the opportunity to assess the students / knowledge and willingness to move forward.

• Having the student for longer than the usual work experience placement enabled them to get more of an idea of the day to day procedures and happenings of their chosen career option.

Typical Employer Anecdotal Comment

• Students get to know the job so they are sure they want to do it. Employers get to see if students are employable

• A great initiative and magnificent program, allowing our youth a meaningful alternative to past teaching methods.

Typical Parent Anecdotal Comment

• The positive impacts on some of the students is their improved attendance and some have become more self confident.

• Parents have rung and are excited about their children being given the opportunity of gaining an apprenticeship.

Typical Teacher Anecdotal Comment

2575 days 1144 days

56% less

Absent days comparison

Prior to “TAPP” “TAPP”

Tracking Data after 9 months from Burnie High School (24 students)

Apprenticeship 9

Year 11 College 9

Traineeship 2

Employment 2

Aust Tech College 2

Unconfirmed 1

Southern Tasmanian TAPP

• 26 students entered Stage 3 of the program

(paid work placement in summer holiday period),

• 18 gained apprenticeships or traineeships,

• 5 continued on in education,

• 3 became trade assistants.

Academic Results

2006 program proved to be successful academically as literacy and numeracy changes clearly show:

• Literacy standards improved by an average of 27%

• Numeracy achievement improved by an average 8.5%

What should I know now ????

• How the TAP program works for a week

• How the program works over the year

• What the benefits are from being involved

• Student outcomes

Any Questions ???

Tasmania