Promoting the benefits of TasWater careers

TasWater representatives have been drumming up enthusiasm for a career in water, meeting with thousands of young people throughout the year to discuss exciting study opportunities and what working within the state’s water industry is like. 

Organisation Planning and Performance Manager Yvette Gilbert said TasWater has been participating in a number of career fairs, expos and events organised for school leavers, both in person and virtually.

“All of these events are a fantastic platform for us to promote the depth and breadth of career opportunities across all our business areas,” Gilbert said.

“Since COVID forced many of these events into the online environment, TasWater has been promoting the annual intern program and graduate intake through virtual events.

“We have had representatives from many areas of our business at these events, from project management to human resources. These expos have provided young Tasmanians with the opportunity to meet with our staff and discuss career pathways that may lead to future employment with the business.”

Tasmania’s young people looking to water jobs

Gilbert said it has been great to see so much interest from young Tasmanians in the opportunities that exist within the water and sewerage sector.

“The general feedback from students is that they didn’t realise the depth and breadth of career opportunities available within TasWater,” she said. “Students don’t often understand what services TasWater provides and are often surprised at the size and distribution of staff at TasWater — that we have a large field presence, but also a large corporate presence.

“It was fantastic to speak to so many students about who we are, what we do, the structure of the business and opportunities for school leavers at any level. These students are the workforce of the future so it is important that they can see and be exposed to all the options available to them.”

Graduate programs and more for Tasmania students

TasWater staff discussed the opportunity for scholarships, trainee, internship and graduate programs with soon-to-be school leavers.

“We have our Steve Balcombe Scholarship, which has been running now for 22 years. One winner is selected each year who is a year 12 leaver intending to study engineering or environmental sciences and who has enrolled at the University of Tasmania (UTas),” Gilbert said.

“There is a joint selection process between UTas and TasWater to decide on the recipient. The successful applicant receives a $6000 per annum scholarship and is able to participate in holiday work experience with us. Upon graduation, the recipient has the opportunity to take up a position at TasWater.

“Our graduate program consists of an ‘attraction and selection campaign’ that we undertake during September for a March intake at TasWater.

“Our graduate program is competency based and goes for 24 months with three rotations between different areas of the business. We have an intake of five graduates per year.”

Gilbert said TasWater also runs a a 12-week summer structured internship program for students in their final year of university, which runs from November through to February.

“On average, 12 to 15 interns join the business and work on a specific project. We have interns across all disciplines including HR, communications, engineering and projects. This program includes get-togethers and soft-skills development, such as personal brand and effective networking,” she said.

Gilbert said TasWater has established programs to attract and retain “start of employee lifecycle” demographic talent.

“We recognise that the competition for top talent will only increase in coming years,” she said.

“We also recognise through our regular strategic workforce planning process that we need to build the right skills and capability for the workforce of the future and those skills should be nurtured from local talent when possible.

“The ability to retain people in the state when interstate options are very attractive is one we strive to consistently build upon — to be able to offer a viable and appealing alternative to leaving the state.”