Graduates of the Aboriginal Pathways to Water Operations short course were formally recognised at a special ceremony hosted by Shoalhaven Water today.
The two-week pilot program supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to build practical skills, explore career opportunities and prepare for work in water operations.
Director Shoalhaven Water, Andrew McVey said rolling the course out for the first time had been a great success, with strong engagement from the 10 participants and positive feedback from trainers.
"Every day we saw how the group's confidence and interest grew as they explored what a career in the water industry could look like," Mr McVey said.
"Covering everything from sampling and testing to workplace health and safety, the program delivered nationally recognised units and a strong foundation for stepping into the industry," he said.
"This program is the result of a collaborative effort supported by the NSW Government and local providers and I'm looking forward to seeing interested participants join Shoalhaven Water in a full-time role."
Shoalhaven Water will support more than 10 full-time traineeships in 2026, inviting those who successfully completed the pilot course to apply for these traineeships.
The program is delivered through a partnership between the Water Group in the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Aboriginal Affairs NSW and the NSW Water Directorate, creating an entry point into water operations and future career opportunities
The short course is funded through an interagency agreement between the NSW Department of Education (Training Services) and the NSW Office of Local Government through the Fresh Start program.
Training provider, Fusion Training Solutions, developed and ran the course in collaboration with Shoalhaven Water in Nowra and it is intended the pilot will establish a model that can be replicated across regional NSW to meet local workforce needs and support Aboriginal communities. Training participants also had the opportunity to register with Yilabara Solutions and Waminda for local support in employment, health and wellbeing.
