Barwon Water welcomes new trainees

Barwon Water is excited to welcome 14 new trainees to its 2022 traineeship program.

Now in its sixth year, the award-winning 12-month program provides access to education and on-the-job training and support while working to achieve a nationally recognised qualification.

Nine of the trainees will join Barwon Water across a range of areas, including water treatment, construction, technology operations, water quality, administration and customer service.

A further five trainees will start with Barwon Water-owned maintenance subsidiary Barwon Asset Solutions in civil maintenance, land management and administration roles.

Barwon Water General Manager Organisational Performance Melissa Stephens said Barwon Water had been working with gforce and Wan-Yaari Aboriginal Consultancy Services on the traineeship program over a number of years with a common goal of creating employment opportunities in the region.

“Our traineeship program provides early-career pathways through on-the-job work training and support, education, and nationally-recognised accreditation,” Ms Stephens said.

This year, graduating trainees from the program were recognised at the Apprentice Employment Network (AEN) awards in February, with Rodney Sutherland winning both the “Inspiration Award: Indigenous Student of the Year” and the prestigious “Trainee of the Year” award.

Mr Sutherland said the traineeship had provided him with an opportunity he might not otherwise have enjoyed to progress his career and support his family and community.

“I’m a plumber by trade and am loving my role with Barwon Water in the Strategic Asset Management team.”

Through the traineeship at Barwon Water, which he was introduced to through Barwon Water’s partnership with Wan-Yaari Aboriginal Consultancy Services, Mr Sutherland is working towards his Certificate III in Business.

The strategy is a pillar of the traineeship program, and is a key commitment under Barwon Water’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan.

Since 2016, 56 trainees have completed the program, with 43 graduates entering the workforce or taking up further studies. Of those 43 people, 18 are now employed by Barwon Water or Barwon Asset Solutions.

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