Local student Liam Rathman is currently completing a year 11 school-based apprenticeship with Don Hayes.

While finishing school is 18 months away, he said he would like to obtain a full time apprenticeship with his placement.

He said that he was learning a lot in the two days a week he spent on apprentice duties.

"Basically it's all apprentice duties," he said.

"(I am) basically giving all the more experienced people a hand and they just teach me."

Liam said there are some advantages for students that do school-based apprenticeships.

"My main goal is to get a trade and that takes four years but doing this knocks off a-year-and-a-half," he said.

Liam studies at the Australian Technical College, which is specifically designed for students to complete their South Australian Certificate of Education and begin their Australian school-based apprenticeships.

"The notion of starting an apprenticeship while still at school has always been around but to have a school whose sole business is to encourage the uptake of Australian school-based apprenticeships has made it easier for students and employers," principal Damien Judd said.

Local businesses have given their full support to the idea of employing Australian school-based apprentices, with only a few students yet to be placed with an employer.

In Port Augusta, large and small industries have signed up the students, with Flinders Power securing five apprentices from the College.