News

HUNTER POWER PROJECT DELIVERS LOCAL JOBS AND SKILLS

12/08/2024

Snowy Hydro’s Hunter Power Project (HPP) is leaving a lasting impact on the local workforce, delivering approximately 600 direct construction jobs and crucial skills development for a number of high-demand construction trades.

More than 60% of HPP workers live locally, which is part of Snowy Hydro’s commitment to supporting communities that the company is a part of.

The number of apprentices at HPP is on the increase, with Snowy Hydro working alongside principal contractor UGL to provide an additional 12 apprenticeship positions in June 2024, which includes three females and two First Nations apprentices. New apprentices on site include a boilermaker, nine electricians, and two mechanical fitters.

Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes said HPP will be good for jobs long after construction is complete.

“We are proud of our contribution to the construction, engineering, and infrastructure sector here in the Hunter, especially given the current tradespeople shortages in Australia.

“This project will have a lasting impact on the size and proficiency of the local workforce”

Mr Barnes said.

”A job on HPP will help set our team up for a rewarding career and a bright future.”

Electrical apprentice Daniel Battle said he became interested in the electrical trade after working as a Trades Assistant on the project.

“This apprenticeship is giving me the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience while working to a high standard within the industry to become an electrician,” Mr Battle said.

Apprentice boilermaker Jackson Scott said he was passionate about fabrication and welding. “I was very lucky to be offered an apprenticeship shortly after starting at HPP.

“HPP is preparing me to have a successful career contributing to important infrastructure in our country, and I’m extremely grateful,” Mr Scott said.

Electrical apprentice Camilla Lindeberg said she worked as a cleaner for seven months before applying for an apprenticeship.

“I never thought of being an electrical apprentice until the opportunity presented itself, and I’m excited for what the future holds.

“The challenge of learning something new and directly contributing to building HPP gives me a great sense of achievement and sets me up for a whole new career with endless opportunities,” Ms Lindeberg said.

Snowy Hydro is also looking to the future workforce through its community support programme.

In 2024, Snowy Hydro extended its Local School STEM Fund to the Cessnock LGA where HPP is located. More than $26,000 was awarded to schools in the area to foster learning opportunities and career pathways for local young people with a focus on STEM.

From left to right: Daniel Battle, Camilla Lindeberg, and Jackson Scott.
News

SNOWY HYDRO SPONSORS TRADE DAY FOR YOUNG WOMEN

14/08/2023

Energised by electricity? Handy with a hammer? Nimble with numbers? Women keen to pick up the tools can find out more about an exciting new career at a trade day in Corryong sponsored by the Snowy Hydro Community Grants Program.

Hosted by Empowered Women in Trades (EWIT), the Tool Skills Day on Thursday 7 September aims to inspire local high school and TAFE students and other young women in Corryong to learn a skilled trade in the disciplines of civil, electrical and mechanical.

EWIT was one of 20 successful applicants receiving a total of $143,000 in funding from round one of the 2023 Snowy Hydro Community Grants. The highly successful program offers grants of up to $10,000 to support projects, festivals, events and initiatives which benefit the local communities of the Snowy Mountains and surrounds.

The EWIT proposal for a Tool Skills Day aimed at young women strongly aligns with Snowy Hydro’s community commitment pillar of education and development. 

Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes said fostering education opportunities and career pathways for local young people was a key focus for the company.

“We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and we are keen to encourage young women into non-traditional roles like trades,” Dennis said. “At Snowy, we have a range of entry-level programs that provide a fantastic opportunity to get local young people straight from the classroom into an energising and practical career.

“We are very pleased to be supporting the EWIT Tools Skills Day at Corryong – where many of our Murray region staff live – through the Snowy Hydro Community Grants Program.”

The Tool Skills Day will be held in Corryong from 9.30am – 2.30pm on 7 September 2023. There will be hands-on EWIT workshops, an exploration of trades-based career pathways, the opportunity to chat one-on-one with ‘tradie ladies’ and more.  

Young local women interested in attending this fun, interactive event can register on the EWIT website. Places are limited, so get in quickly.

Local organisations can apply for funding from round two of the 2023 Snowy Hydro Community Grants Program. Applications open this month and must be submitted online via the Snowy Hydro website by 8 September.

All applications will be assessed against the program’s grants criteria – there is more information available on the website

Your proposed project or event must respond to a community need, provide tangible benefits to the community, strengthen the community by providing opportunities that align with Snowy Hydro’s community commitment pillars, demonstrate strong governance, foster strong and sustainable partnerships within the community and return value for investment.

**EWIT is an organisation that champions tradeswomen, diversity and gender equality. Its  mission is to transform the trades industry by empowering women and fostering a culture of inclusivity. EWIT works with education institutions and industry leaders to increase women’s participation in trades, provide opportunities for them to learn trade skills and assist them to thrive in the workforce.

News

SNOWY’S KURT WASSINK WINS REGIONAL APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

26/06/2023

Snowy Hydro’s Kurt Wassink has been named the Riverina region’s 2023 Apprentice of the Year in the NSW Department of Training awards.

Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes congratulated Cooma local Kurt, who completed his Certificate III in Electrotechnology at TAFE NSW, on winning the prestigious award. 

“This is a wonderful achievement that underlines the quality of both our local employees and our long-standing apprentice program,” Dennis said.

“At Snowy we are committed to developing science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) expertise among our people, and nurturing the talent we have in the Snowy Mountains region.

“We are future focused and are proud to see our apprentice program is building STEM skills not only for our business, but for the energy industry and regional Australia.”

Snowy Hydro employs up to 25 apprentices annually. In 2023 we have 25 apprentices, six of whom are females and three are Clontarf Foundation graduates. Around 10% of our full time employees are in graduate, apprenticeship and trainee programs at any one time.

Kurt, who is now a qualified Snowy Hydro Maintenance Technician – Electrician working in Khancoban at our Murray 1 and 2 hydro power stations, will progress to the next stage of the NSW Training Awards which are held in Sydney later in the year. 

These awards honour and recognise outstanding achievement in the NSW vocational education and training sector.

News

SNOWY HYDRO 2022 APPRENTICES AND TRAINEES INTAKE OPENS

04/05/2021

Thinking about applying for an apprenticeship or traineeship at Snowy Hydro? Come along to a community drop-in session at the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre in Cooma on Saturday 8 May for more information!

Year 12 students considering a traineeship, their families and prospective apprentices of all ages can ask questions to find out more about the Snowy Hydro 2022 Trainee and Apprentice program in one convenient spot.

The session, which runs from 9am to 11am, complements the school presentations conducted throughout the Snowy Mountains region and provides additional opportunities for the community to learn more about Snowy Hydro’s annual apprentice and trainee intake.

Applications for a 2022 Snowy Hydro traineeship or apprenticeship are open now. Visit  https://www.snowyhydro.com.au/entry-level-programs/ and apply by Friday 28 May 2021.

Snowy Hydro Managing Director and CEO Paul Broad, said a Snowy Hydro apprenticeship or traineeship combined paid, on-the-job experience with vocational education and training.

“We’ve been running school-leaver programs for 31 years and we’re going to keep investing in locals and the future workforce because it’s a win-win for all,” Mr Broad said.

“We’re equipping the region’s next generation with job-ready skills and qualifications, and Snowy Hydro benefits by developing a pipeline of highly-trained staff, which is critical to ensure we have a skilled workforce in the future.”

Snowy Hydro traineeships and apprenticeships can lead to longer-term roles with the business, as well as further training, university, or jobs with other employers. 

Information technology trainee Maria Tarasyuk completed her two-year Certificate III early, and has taken up a new year-long contract while she completes a software engineering degree at university. “I feel like I’m learning twice as much because I learn in both environments and I can apply it in real life at Snowy Hydro,” Maria said.

Apprenticeships

This program provides a four-year apprenticeship with Snowy Hydro while completing either a Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade (Fitting/Machining), or Certificate III Electrotechnology Electrician Electrical Trade through Wagga Wagga TAFE.

During the apprenticeship there is on-the-job training and mentoring by experienced tradespeople in an exciting and unique work environment.

To ensure apprentices develop a wide range of skills, they rotate through the Snowy Scheme’s operating and maintenance centres in Jindabyne, Khancoban, Cabramurra and Talbingo.  

Traineeships

Traineeships are available to students who are in year 12 this year, in a range of business areas, including information technology, energy generation and asset management, communications, human resources, finance, community relations, Snowy 2.0 and procurement.

During the year-long program, trainees complete a Certificate III and IV in Business Administration or Certificate III in Information Technology through Cooma TAFE, paired with on-the-job training and mentoring by experts. The trainee intake also feeds into our cadetship program, in which Snowy Hydro sponsors cadets to study a relevant STEM degree at the University of Wollongong.