EX-service personnel will be among trainees learning to become linespersons, electricians and cable jointers at the Queensland Energy Berrinba depot.
The program has the support of RSL Queensland and aims to help ex-service people transition back to civilian life.
There will be nine workers across seven depots across the state.
“Queenslanders are grateful for the service of these brave men, who will continue serving Queenslanders on a different frontline – maintaining our critical energy assets,” Member for Springwood and Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said.
Those workers would be among a group of 117 apprentices and trainees who would take up the tools and learn valuable skills in depots and power stations.
Mr de Brenni said publicly-owned energy businesses are sparking new career opportunities for veterans, mature age students and school leavers.
“Getting on with the job of delivering Queensland’s plan for economic recovery means ensuring Queenslanders get the opportunity to secure a trade that will set them up for life,” Mr de Brenni said.
Minister de Brenni said this year had seen a record 35% female apprentices starting their careers with Queensland’s energy network.
“Safe, secure jobs should be jobs for all Queenslanders, so it’s important that more women are given roles in this traditionally male-dominated industry,” he said.
The apprentice roles include communications technicians, linespersons, underground cable jointers, electricians and boilermakers as well as business and warehousing operations trainees.
“Eighty-eight apprentices will learn the ins and outs of how the electricity supply industry works at Queensland’s publicly owned energy distributors Energex and Ergon,” Mr de Brenni said.
“Six apprentices will have the opportunity to work across Powerlink’s 1,700km transmission network.
“Twenty apprentices are joining the energy generation workforce and will be working at power stations operated by CS Energy and Stanwell.
“Later this year, Queensland’s dedicated clean energy company – CleanCo – will be taking on three apprentices that are expected to start work in the third quarter of 2021.”
