CEQL Hub

CEQL’s role in VET

The Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Schools Grant Funding Allocation is administered and distributed to Catholic dioceses and schools via Catholic Education Queensland Limited (CEQL). The purpose of this funding is to set out operational targets and activities which assist Catholic schools to align their VET in Schools activity to the Department of Trade, Employment and Training VET Investment Plan including addressing industry needs, skill shortages and managing the implementation of the new VET Funding Framework. Funding is disbursed from CEQL for:

  • Supporting schools to respond to industry needs through VET delivery as it aligns to the VET Investment Plan
  • Increasing participation in School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships or other trades related vocational courses targeted to industry priorities
  • Supporting schools in the transition to the VETiS Funding Framework
  • Developing strategies to maintain quality standards in VET in Schools including professional development.
  • Increasing participation in, and access to, VET in Schools within rural and remote areas and for educationally
    disadvantaged students including Indigenous students and students with a disability.

Catholic Education Queensland Limited (CEQL) provides general services and advice to schools and school authorities on issues related to VET.

Some useful links:

Queensland Department of Education
School-based apprenticeships and traineeships procedures

Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority (QCAA)
VET – vocational education and training

Queensland Government Training
Training courses and pathways

Apprenticeship and Traineeship Information
School-based Apprenticeship and Traineeship

Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)
National regulator of Registered Training Organisations

Gateway to Industry Schools Program (GISP)
Gateway schools

Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
Skills and training

VET in schools funding

CEQL receives an amount of funding each year from the Queensland Government’s VET Investment Plan to support VET in schools. This funding is distributed to schools via Catholic School Authority (CSA) and is provided to:

  • promote VET in schools.
  • provide seed funding for school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs). The latest version of the Education, Training and Employment Schedule is available on the Queensland Government publications portal website and is provided to assist schools to record agreed arrangements for SATs.

  • subsidise access and equity arrangements through:

    1. travel and accommodation allowance and
    2. financial subsidies for students with special needs.

Travel and Accommodation Allowance

Send completed forms to vet@ceql.catholic.edu.au.

Guidelines for Access and Equity Support for Students With Disability

Send completed forms to vet@ceql.catholic.edu.au.

PDF SATS Travel and Accommodation Guidelines PDF SATS TA Claim Form PDF Guidelines VETiS Access and Equity PDF Application Form VETiS Access Equity Funding for students with disability

Training and Work Placement

School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships

School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs) allow secondary school students to work for an employer, train towards a recognised qualification, and complete their secondary school studies. A flexible school program allows students to effectively combine a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT) while studying for their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and/or Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

Structured Workplace Learning

In Queensland the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) has developed Structured Workplace Learning as an individualised course that can be offered in years 10, 11 or 12. The QCAA has developed a quality assurance process to recognise such informal learning courses that may contribute to the achievement of a Queensland Certificate of Education.

Work Experience

Work experience is a structured educational activity that enables students to participate in a workplace as part of their school program, providing authentic opportunities to explore careers, develop employability skills, and apply classroom learning in real-world settings. 

Work experience creates a formal partnership between the school, the student, and the host employer, allowing students to gain insight into workplace expectations, industry practices, and potential career pathways while remaining enrolled at school and under approved work experience arrangements. 

Work experience is more than observation. It is a purposeful learning experience that helps students connect education, training and employment by exploring occupations, industries and workplaces that align with their interests, strengths and future aspirations. 

Benefits of Work Experience 

Work experience provides significant benefits for students, schools and employers, including: 

For Students 

  • Develops a greater understanding of workplace culture, expectations and professional behaviours. 
  • Assists students to make more informed subject selection, training and career decisions. 
  • Provides exposure to industries, occupations and career pathways that may not be readily accessible in the school environment. 
  • Builds confidence, independence, communication and interpersonal skills. 
  • Strengthens employability capabilities such as teamwork, initiative, problem-solving, adaptability and professionalism. 
  • Enables students to apply classroom learning in authentic workplace contexts. 
  • Assists students to establish industry connections and professional networks. 
  • Increases awareness of post-school education, training and employment opportunities. 

For Schools 

  • Supports student career development and pathway planning. 
  • Strengthens partnerships between schools, employers and local industries. 
  • Enhances the relevance of classroom learning through real-world application. 
  • Supports implementation of careers education and vocational learning programs. 
  • Provides opportunities for students to explore school-based apprenticeships, traineeships, VET programs and future employment pathways. 

Work Experience Procedures and Documentation Requirements 

Catholic schools undertaking work experience placements should ensure they comply with the Queensland Department of Education’s Work experience placements for school students procedure and use the associated supporting resources. These resources provide the approved framework for planning, approving, implementing and monitoring work experience placements in Queensland schools. 

Department of Education Requirements 

Schools are strongly encouraged to: 

  • Use the supporting resources, templates and guidance material accompanying the procedure. 
  • Ensure work experience placements are appropriately assessed, approved and supervised in accordance with Department requirements and local Catholic School Authority processes. 
  • Retain placement documentation in accordance with school and Catholic School Authority record-keeping requirements. 

Work Experience Agreement Form 

The Department of Education Work Experience Agreement Form (found on the procedure page above)  is a critical component of the work experience process and should be used for all work experience placements. 

Schools should: 

  • Use the current Department of Education Work Experience Agreement Form. 
  • Complete the form before the placement commences. 
  • Ensure all required parties sign the agreement. 
  • Retain a copy of the completed agreement for record-keeping purposes. 
  • Not modify, alter or substitute the Department-approved Work Experience Agreement Form. 

The approved form is the document that establishes the formal arrangement between the school, student and host employer and underpins access to the relevant insurance protections available through the Department of Education and CEQL insurance arrangements. 

Why This Is Important 

The Department of Education liability insurance arrangements are only available where: 

  • The work experience placement has been approved by the school; and 
  • A written Work Experience Agreement has been completed between the school and the work experience provider before the placement commences. 

The Work Experience Agreement also provides important evidence that: 

  • The placement was school-approved. 
  • The placement formed part of the student’s educational program. 
  • The placement was undertaken in accordance with approved procedures. 
  • The student may be eligible for insurance coverage where a work experience-related incident occurs. 

Insurance Information

Work Experience Insurance

Work experience placements provide valuable opportunities for students to explore career pathways and apply classroom learning in workplace settings. To support these experiences, approved work experience placements are covered by two separate insurance arrangements: 

Public Liability Insurance 

The Queensland Department of Education maintains a liability insurance arrangement for approved work experience placements involving students from both state and non-state schools. This insurance is provided through the Queensland Government Insurance Fund (QGIF).  

Subject to the terms and conditions of the policy, this insurance generally: 

  • Indemnifies the work experience provider if a student is injured while undertaking approved work experience duties. 
  • Indemnifies the student if they cause injury to another person or damage to property while participating in an approved placement. 
  • Indemnifies both the student and work experience provider where injury or property damage is caused to a third party as a result of the work experience placement.  

Access to this coverage is dependent upon: 

  • The placement being approved by the school. 
  • A completed Work Experience Agreement being signed before the placement commences. 
  • Schools using the approved Department of Education Work Experience Agreement documentation.  

Workers’ Compensation Insurance 

Catholic Education Queensland Limited (CEQL) maintains a central WorkCover Queensland Contract of Insurance on behalf of Queensland Catholic schools to provide workers’ compensation-style coverage for eligible students undertaking approved work experience and vocational placements. CEQL is the named Policyholder under this arrangement. 

The policy applies to: 

  • Students aged 14 years and over. 
  • Students enrolled in an accredited Queensland Catholic school. 
  • Work experience or vocational placements arranged by the student’s school as part of their education program. 

The policy operates under section 22 of the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (Qld) and provides compensation entitlements generally equivalent to those available to workers under the Act in the event of a placement-related injury.  

Responsibilities of Schools and Catholic School Authorities 

While CEQL maintains the insurance policy and manages the relationship with WorkCover Queensland, schools and Catholic School Authorities play an important role in ensuring students remain eligible for coverage and that claims can be properly supported. 

Schools should ensure they maintain appropriate records relating to each placement, including: 

  • Student enrolment information. 
  • Evidence that the student is at least 14 years of age. 
  • Completed Work Experience Agreements. 
  • Placement approval documentation. 
  • Host employer details. 
  • Placement dates and attendance records. 
  • Relevant risk assessments. 
  • Incident reports where applicable. 

These records may be required by WorkCover Queensland to verify a student’s eligibility for coverage and support any workers’ compensation claim arising from a placement-related injury. 

Injury Reporting and Claims 

If a student is injured while participating in an approved work experience or vocational placement: 

  • The incident should be reported and documented in accordance with local Catholic School Authority and school procedures. 
  • Relevant records should be retained and made available if requested. 
  • CEQL may seek information from the school or Catholic School Authority to support WorkCover Queensland’s assessment of a claim. 

A timely and accurate response assists WorkCover Queensland to determine eligibility and assess compensation entitlements as efficiently as possible. 

Shared Governance Approach 

The work experience insurance model operates as a shared responsibility across the Queensland Catholic schooling sector. 

CEQL Responsibilities 

CEQL is responsible for: 

  • Maintaining the WorkCover Queensland Contract of Insurance. 
  • Paying insurance premiums. 
  • Managing policy renewals. 
  • Meeting policyholder disclosure obligations. 
  • Managing the relationship with WorkCover Queensland. 
  • Supporting claims administration and compliance requirements. 

Catholic School Authority and School Responsibilities 

Catholic School Authorities and schools are responsible for: 

  • Managing local work experience processes. 
  • Ensuring placements are appropriately approved. 
  • Maintaining required placement records. 
  • Reporting and documenting incidents. 
  • Providing information required to support insurance claims and policy compliance activities. 

This shared governance model ensures students are appropriately protected while enabling CEQL to maintain a consistent, sector-wide insurance framework for work experience and vocational placements across Queensland Catholic schools. 

Insurance for School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SATs)

The insurance for SATs is the employer’s responsibility as the student is receiving payment for her/his services.

Important details regarding work experience and insurance: schools are encouraged to access the Work experience placements for school students procedure from the Department of Education Policy and Procedure Register to make sure that all aspects of work experience are covered, particularly with insurance. The procedure provides links to supporting documentation and websites.

PDF Workcover Certificate of Currency - CEQL PDF Queensland Government Insurance Fund Certificate of Currency