An incredible opportunity to be paid while you study has limited spaces open now.
Ipswich City Council has launched a new cadetship program initially offering three eligible engineering students the chance to combine full-time study with paid part-time work.
Acting Mayor Wayne Wendt said eligible Civil or Environmental Engineering students could gain practical work experience, part-time employment and study assistance, while council develops its future engineers.
“We want high calibre people who want to shape the future of our city,” he said.
“Nationally there is a lack of engineers, and it’s an ongoing problem as the workforce ages.
“Local government engineering offers exciting opportunities, access to the latest systems and technology, ongoing professional development and the ability to pursue your goals.”
Planning, Development and Heritage Committee Chairperson Councillor David Morrison said the cadets would be supported through a strong mentorship program, and learn in a progressive and professional environment.
“Ipswich City Council has an incredible depth of engineering talent and knowledge, and these cadets will have access to that as they study and work towards their career goals,” he said.
Council engineers Mitchell Weatherhead and Mary Torres.
“The contributions that are made in my work can benefit the whole community – the people who live, work and visit Ipswich.”
Mitchell Weatherhead
June applications close - so be quick!
There has only been one other intake of Ipswich City Council cadets – 10 years ago, at the height of the mining boom.
Four of the six original cadets are still with council, including Engineer Mitchell Weatherhead – who has since achieved the status of Chartered Professional Engineer of Engineers Australia (CPEng).
“I have enjoyed the variety of work and engineering experience that council has to offer,” he said.
“The contributions that are made in my work can benefit the whole community – the people who live, work and visit Ipswich.”
One of those highlights for Mr Weatherhead has been providing engineering input to the Greater Springfield Development.
“It has been a great experience for me – it’s amazing to see a new city and community develop in a short period of time,” he said.
For Principal Engineer Mary Torres, local government work provided a great balance between working in an office, onsite inspections and meeting various stakeholders.
“There is a real sense of being able to also make a positive engineering contribution within the community I also live in,” she said.
Ms Torres said being responsible for a multi-disciplinary infrastructure planning team was “challenging yet rewarding”.
“My current role is also responsible for the day-to-day traffic operations across the City which keeps us on our toes and can be a very dynamic environment,” she said.
“The cadetship would be a wonderful opportunity to gain an understanding of the many aspects within the Civil engineering profession.
Applying the theory learnt at university into practice while studying would be an extremely valuable asset and would make you much more employable.”
Cr Wendt said the cadets would rotate through council departments and experience the variety of engineering disciplines within local government.
“Every rotation will offer new real-world experiences, including investigations, design, project management, construction and maintenance, asset management, operations and more,” he said.
“Through the course of the cadetship, students will have the ability to recommend and implement their own ideas to improve the quality of life for our community.
“The cadetship also offers personal development opportunities as it will require teamwork, problem solving, customer service and more, all while maintaining the high standards of public service.”
Are you the right candidate?
- Studying for a degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering and committed to completing within an agreed timeframe
- Ability to work in a team environment and problem solve
- Possess good communication, organisational and time management skills
- Proficient in use of computer applications
- Committed to customer service, continuous improvement and maintaining a high level of privacy and confidentiality
- Able to commit to a period of work after graduation equal to the time served as an undergraduate cadet with council
