Waratah-Wynyard Council is investing in its future and the region by boosting the skills and knowledge of its staff (both new and experienced) with training.
Council now has more than 20 employees undertaking formal (certificate) traineeships including youth work, civil construction, project management, horticulture and business.
Three students undertaking Australian School-based Apprenticeships (ASbA) are employed as part of the Cradle Coast Authority’s Local Government Australian School-based Apprenticeship Project, which aims to provide at least 15 people with an apprenticeship over a two-year period.
While Council‘s Parks & Reserves and Works & Services teams has seven new and existing employees undertaking traineeships.
“Our new school-based apprentices and trainees have added a real level of enthusiasm and fresh perspectives to the workplace,” Waratah-Wynyard Council’s General Manager Shane Crawford said.
“We want to ensure their training is a richly rewarding experience that maximises their future potential.”
Council’s workforce is above the average age of the region’s other Councils and staff have a much longer tenure than elsewhere.
Close to 50 per cent of the existing workforce will retire in the next 10 years, so a strategy to manage retirements and transition knowledge is critical.
“With the above in mind, Council’s own workforce planning data, coupled with a workforce analysis by the Cradle Coast Authority, the time to act was now,” Mr Crawford said.
“I believe that Councils have an obligation to provide training and development opportunities for community members as part of its workforce, whether this be traineeships, apprenticeships or work experience. In our case, these opportunities will help grow and develop our future workforce.”
Authorised for general media distribution by Shane Crawford, General Manager, Waratah-Wynyard Council on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
