Career opportunities for 2009 have been provided in the areas of Community Services, Information Technology, Construction, Horticulture and Plumbing (Apprenticeship).

All Trainees will complete a 12 month traineeship and complete a Certificate III as a part of that, while the apprentice plumber will complete a four year apprenticeship with Cabonne Council.

The new intake will join the two apprentice plant mechanics, two drafting apprentices and an apprentice carpenter bringing the total of trainees and apprentices to ten for 2009.

“Our goal has always been that every year, on average, we will have at least 5 per cent of our workforce as trainees and apprentices, which is probably the highest percentage of trainees and apprentices in any Council in Australia”, Graeme Fleming, General Manager Cabonne Council said.

The Trainee and Apprenticeship program is an initiative of the Strategic Alliance between Wellington Blayney and Cabonne Councils.

The Alliance is actively involved in employing trainees, from the three local government areas of Wellington, Blayney and Cabonne in varied positions. Collectively the Alliance for 2009 will employ 18 trainees/cadets/apprentices, thereby assisting in skills shortages currently being experienced in the local government arena.

Cabonne is proud to have offered fulltime positions to previous years dedicated trainees, “It is encouraging to see many of the 2007 and 2008 trainees remaining within the Local Government industry either having secured casual, part-time or full-time work and others are continuing on with further study in their related fields,” Mr Fleming said.

“Traineeships are viewed by Council to offer an effective pathway from school to work combining the best of both worlds – practical on the job training and qualifications.

Those who enter traineeships progress relatively quickly into what they perceive as a 'career' position which has benefits for both Council and the individual,” Mr Fleming concluded.