If you want to give your career a kickstart, an apprenticeship or traineeship is a great way to get ahead.
A Careers Expo and Forum will be held in Grafton on Wednesday 08 November 2023 from 3pm to 6pm.
The expo will highlight the launch of a new program to provide opportunities across a diverse range of careers at Clarence Valley Council.
"Clarence Valley Council has launched the new Trainee and Apprenticeship Program," Manager Organisational Development Jess Kennedy said. "This program has been created to expand opportunities for people to start and develop a career with Council, across a broad range of industries and skill areas."
"There are 10 new trainee and apprentice opportunities available across multiple industry career paths, ranging from plant mechanic, fitting and bridge carpentry apprenticeships, to organisational development and customer service traineeships. We hope that these new recruits will start in early 2024."
Attendees will have the opportunity to explore what is involved in various roles, learn about career progression opportunities, and engage with current staff at various stages of their careers who started as trainees or apprentices.
There will be a free sausage sizzle thanks to the Grafton Men's Shed. Collect your ticket for the barbecue upon arrival.
The program has been developed under Council's Grow Your Own initiative to help boost Council's capacity to grow its skilled workforce and optimise service delivery into the future.
"As an apprentice or trainee, you get the benefit of structured and relevant competency-based training that teaches you skills you can use straight away," Ms Kennedy said.
"This program will provide participants with the opportunity to be trained and mentored by highly skilled, passionate professionals within Council."
Ms Kennedy started her career with a traineeship in corporate services at neighbouring Bellingen Shire Council when she was 17. After furthering her education and moving into the private sector for a number of years, she was drawn back to local government in early 2023 by the desire to make a more meaningful contribution to society.
"When I finished Year 12 I was provided with the opportunity to complete a traineeship myself," she said. "The role that I'm currently in has provided me an opportunity to create this program to give the same opportunities to people in similar situations to what I was in when I was a young person.
"It's really exciting to now be creating new career opportunities for others, just like the one that I was so fortunate to have when I first left school."
