Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) is again running its Kickstart summer internships, to help university students add all important practical experience to their resumes.
Now in its third year, Kickstart provides meaningful, paid work experience to students during their annual break from studies – allowing them to apply skills learned in lecture halls to real-life projects.
This year, GMW has employed eight young people for up to 12 weeks
They are working in roles ranging from data analysis to getting their hands dirty, repairing infrastructure in the field.
For Ryan Alegre, who completed a pre-apprenticeship in Electrical Technology, working at GMW is a far cry from his last year, when he was installing security cameras in Melbourne homes.
He said the sophistication of industrial electrical maintenance at GMW has been a steep but fascinating learning curve.
“It’s been operational and very hands-on at lakes and pumping stations where the electrical aspect of the business is very big,” Ryan, 21, said.
“The solar panels you see along the channels – the amount of technology behind them is really amazing.”
Joe Shelton, who grew up on a dairy farm at Kialla, has become a familiar face at GMW while completing two years of study towards degrees in Civil Engineering and Business at La Trobe University.
He is currently on his second Kickstart secondment and also found work last year with one of GMW’s winter construction teams.
“All the bookwork is with La Trobe at Bendigo and all my practical experience is here,” Joe, 21, said.
“The two are coming together for me - for example my studies in fluid mechanics are helping me understand how GMW manages channel erosion and weed infestation.
“I really didn’t know what I wanted to do in engineering but now I want to work in the water industry – it’s just so diverse.”
