A school-based traineeship was proven to be a successful pathway to employment for 20-year-old Nicole Gesue.
The previous Collie Senior High School student said she did a school-based traineeship through years 11 and 12 on Thursday's and Friday's at the Collie Chamber of Commerce.
"They were putting on a trainee and I was lucky enough to do that," she said.
"Through TAFE you usually only do one certificate but because I was doing a school-based traineeship they were able to push me through to do two.
"So that's probably one of the best things I got out of it, and also that I obviously got paid."
Ms Gesue said she completed a certificate II in business and one in finance.
With her certificates and experience at the chamber under her belt she was able to gain employment in town.
She now works at the Collie and Districts Community Bank Branch of the Bendigo Bank as a customer relationship officer.
The number of young people in WA commencing school-based traineeships had increased by 14.8 per cent from September 2017 to September 2018, according to figures from the Department of Training and Workforce Development.
Collie Chamber of Commerce Rebecca Woods said the benefits were received on both sides.
"The student received an incentive, getting paid a wage and the chamber received the benefit of the help in the office and by employing a school based trainee, we received incentives from the Australian Government. These (incentives) were used toward her wage," she said.
"I would encourage other businesses to get involved as it helped us ensure that someone we were training had an incentive to be here, which meant they showed up, they wanted to learn as it helped with their studies and you received some financial support to help with the cost of wages."
Recently Collie Senior High School held an information night about their school-based traineeships.
Collie Senior High School deputy principal Jodie Hanns said within a school-based traineeship there were a lot more opportunities for students to branch out into areas of interest.
Collie Senior High School student Cohen Hislop is currently doing a school-based traineeship at Central Garage in Collie.
"I decided to get on board and do the traineeship because a mechanical pathway is something I have always wanted to do and doing it this way I get more qualifications," he said.
"It's pretty good, instead of going to TAFE or doing work experience and not getting paid, this way I actually get paid."
He said his end goal was to get a job as a mechanic.
For information on school-based traineeships contact Jodie Hanns on 9735 1200.
