Campbelltown offers trainees new frontiers

For 25 years, Campbelltown City Council has been running its highly successful traineeship and apprenticeship program. It recently welcomed a new intake of trainees, who will spend the next 12 to 24 months developing practical workplace skills, to help them obtain full time employment.

Council has worked with MG My Gateway, Macarthur Disability Services and Aboriginal Employment Strategy.

Campbelltown Mayor Paul Lake said the program is based on a commitment to provide relevant and practical workplace experience for local young people.

"Council’s traineeship program provides the tools for trainees and apprentices to excel in their future career," Councillor Lake said. "The success of our traineeship and apprenticeship program can be measured by the high number of trainees that go on to secure long term employment, or undertake further study, following their time at Council."

This year, administrative trainees are working across various sections of the organisation. Of these trainees, one is undertaking a printing traineeship for a 12 month period, while 13 other trainees are school leavers engaged through MG My Gateway, and work at Council full time over a 12 month period, while undertaking a Certificate III course in Business Administration.

There are also two trainees with a disability who are jointly engaged by MG My Gateway and Macarthur Disability Services for a minimum 12 month period. They will also undertakes a Certificate III course in Business Administration during their tenure. Two trainees have been engaged through Aboriginal Employment Strategy.

Alongside this is a school based work experience traineeship program that forms part of the students’ Higher School Certificate. Trainees work one day a week at Council over a two year period and for a period of time in the school holidays, while undertaking a Certificate II course in Business Administration.

Council also employs several apprentices who are progressing through their apprenticeships in horticulture, turf wickets, automotive mechanical technology and signwriting.

Each year, some of the trainees do end up working at the Council in full time positions.