We’re a team that cares about you and your community.
Our business provides essential services supplying electricity vital for our customers and a clean energy future.
United by a sense of purpose, our priorities are to provide reliable, safe and affordable electricity. We achieve this by managing a sophisticated system that enables our customers’ choices for new technologies like solar and electric vehicles while also distributing more renewable energy.
Our people are at the frontline in developing and implementing innovative technologies and solutions necessary for the future of our industry, not only in Victoria but globally. It is a team effort with diverse teams across our businesses, all contributing to great customer and community outcomes.
Our people are our most important asset, and we continually invest in nurturing their capability. Working with us means being fully supported to make the most of new experiences and build careers through a range of opportunities to learn from the best and grow in a safe, inclusive, flexible and collaborative environment. Wherever you work, we’ll support you to be the best you can be.
Beon Energy Solutions
CitiPower
Powercor Australia
United Energy
What We Do
CitiPower, Powercor and United Energy own and operate the electricity distribution networks servicing 1.9 million customers located across 65% of Victoria. Through Beon Energy Solutions, we’re also developing large-scale solar and wind farms, as well as building major power infrastructure.
We provide reliable, safe and affordable electricity, and our businesses are independently rated as the best in the country for their efficiency. Sustaining this is all the more critical and challenging as greater electrification of homes, fleets, and industries becomes a core strategy for reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change.
To do this, we operate a network of poles, wires and infrastructure that distribute electricity to and from our customers.
In other words, we bring power produced by electricity generators to our customers’ meters. We also manage the meters (almost all of which are advanced, smart meters) and provide the meter data to energy retailers who issue your electricity bills.
As more people and businesses install rooftop solar and batteries, we are also the network that you export into when you want to get paid for the extra power you generate and share it with others.
There are five steps in the energy supply chain that gets electricity to your home or business.
Power generation
It starts with large-scale generators – hydro, wind, solar, coal and gas-fired – that produce the electricity in the National Electricity Market.
Transmission
Generated electricity is transported at high voltage along transmission lines. These are the large towers with multiple powerlines that you’ll see across the country.
Distribution
CitiPower and Powercor take the power from these transmission lines, convert into a lower voltage, and then distribute it via our network of poles and wires to your home or business. Our role is to make sure power is safely and reliably delivered to your electricity meter.
Meter management
We take care of your electricity meter, which measures the amount of electricity that you use.
Energy retailer
We share your electricity data with your energy retailer, who is responsible for sending your electricity bills. You’ll need to talk to them regarding your pricing plan or to pay your bills.
Our key activities are
Maintaining network safety and reliability to meet the current power supply needs of our customers
Extending and upgrading the network so that the future power supply needs of customers are met when required
Operating the network 24×7
Connecting new customers to the network
Maintaining the public lighting system
Reading electricity meters
Providing meter data to retailers.
Our Graduate Programs
We believe that what makes our graduate programs unique is the way you’re acknowledged as a critical part of the team – right from the start.
Join us, and from the outset, you’ll be valued and rewarded for the skills and smarts you bring to the organisation while being given the opportunity to take charge of your own career trajectory.
We recognise that high achievers thrive when they’re supported and empowered. So we’ve created a structured program that quickly immerses you in real-world assignments. A program that channels your knowledge into innovative projects such as community batteries and enhancing the customer experience. It’ll have you working closely with industry leaders who’ll guide and support you all the way. And you’ll be exposed to all parts of the business – a people-first business, helping solve some of the biggest energy challenges of our generation.
All the while, you’ll experience a development program introducing you to a great working environment and a culture defined by camaraderie and an unwavering commitment to excellence. There’s nothing more inspiring as you begin your career.
We’re a Top Graduate Employer.
We’re proud to be listed as one of Australia’s Top Graduate Employers for 2023. The ranking is from the Australia Association of Graduate Employers survey of 3000 graduates who have spent up to 12 months working with their organisations.
What you can expect from our graduate program
We’ve developed a comprehensive three-year program that offers a high level of support, skills development, and career advancement. So you’re guaranteed to be working with some of the most experienced and respected people in the business, on some of the most exciting and important projects in the energy sector.
You’ll get your career off to a great start, with:
Four 6-monthly rotations, followed by a 12-month rotation
Two mini 1-week rotations – to strengthen your relationships across the business and broaden your skillset
A three-day event where you’ll learn, grow and be challenged with other graduates
Ongoing coaching and mentoring from senior leaders including a personal mentor
A pairing with an experienced graduate as a buddy to support you in your first year
A permanent role at the end of the program that aligns to your skills and interests.
And you won’t be restricted to your discipline. You’ll also have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the organisation’s business and corporate functions, helping you build networks that can accelerate the progress and direction of your career.
You decide where and how far you want to go; we’ll help you make it happen.
Who we’re looking for
We’re seeking the smartest, most ambitious graduates from a range of disciplines such as engineering, IT, business, commerce, economics, science, the arts and social sciences.
To be eligible to apply, you must:
graduate by the end of the 2023 academic year
hold a Bachelor’s or Masters’s degree relevant to the role you’re applying for
have full Australian working rights
be available to commence full-time employment in February 2024.
Graduate opportunities
All graduates complete a three-year program comprised of four 6-month rotations, followed by a 12-month rotation. We offer career opportunities for graduates in the following streams.
Information technology
Electrical Engineering
Corporate and customer
Finance
Graduate Opportunities
All graduates complete a three-year program comprised of four 6-monthly rotations, followed by a 12-month rotation. We offer career opportunities for graduates in the following streams:
Corporate and customer
Graduates from a wide range of degree disciplines can apply to this stream. You’ll have the opportunity to work in a stream based on your qualifications and interests, plus the opportunity to rotate across a range of teams to expand your capabilities. We offer graduate placements in the following business areas:
(1) Business strategy, innovation and customer experience
(2) Corporate affairs and stakeholder engagement
(3) Health, safety and environment
Rotations may include:
Business strategy
Corporate affairs and stakeholder engagement
Customer experience and operations
Digital innovation
Field operations
Health, safety and sustainability
Human resources
Regulation and policy
Recruitment process and timelines: To apply, you’ll need to submit your resume, and an application letter and answer a few questions related to your chosen stream.
Electrical engineering
Degree required: Bachelor or Master of Engineering (Electrical Engineering)
You’ll have the opportunity to gain experience in a variety of areas including:
Network planning: optimising the network to meet the needs of customers and communities
Network strategy: shaping a network for the future as the energy industry evolves
Distribution and substation design: helping design and develop new assets for the construction
Asset management: implementing policies and processes to ensure our assets meet business requirements
Commissioning: incorporating new equipment into the network
Control and operations: maintaining the network and enhancing operational excellence
Project engineering: providing technical input for all aspects of a project
Project management: delivering projects to maintain network safety, reliability and security
Information technology
Degree required: Bachelor or Master of Information Systems, Bachelor or Master of Computer Science – or similar.
Exciting opportunities: You’ll have the chance to work on some of the 100 capital projects in flight. This could include optimising our web-based customer portal, implementing new technologies which allow us to better prevent, detect and respond to cybersecurity incidents, or crunching data collected by drones to assess the health of our network assets.
You’ll have the opportunity to gain experience in a variety of areas including:
Cybersecurity: providing IT support and oversight to ensure the security of IT and business assets
Project delivery: implementing technology projects across our business to enhance how we work and operate the electricity network
Application management: conduct, support and improve IT applications, and select, design and develop digital business solutions
Dev-ops: designing, building and operating software including coding
Analytics: business analysis, data analytics and testing to ensure IT solutions meet business requirements
Commercial and governance: reporting on IT performance including budgets, dashboards and KPIs to the CIO and stakeholders
Technical engineering streams: testing, configuring, and troubleshooting hardware, software, and networking systems
Apprenticeship Program
Imagine feeling great about coming to work every day.
Not just because you’re helping deliver a critical service that thousands of people in your community depend on. But also because of the people you work with. A team inspired by the opportunities they have to help support customers and deliver a green energy future by integrating renewables into our network and making a real impact on climate change. This is what you can be part of, in our apprenticeship program.
Join us because we’re an organisation large enough to give you real job security, great pay and rewards, and the chance to work on some big and seriously important infrastructure. And because you’ll be a vital part of a tight-knit crew, you’ll enjoy real teamwork, amazing support and mateship. Things that get your career off to a great start – and which put a smile on your face.
The apprenticeship opportunities we offer
Our four-year apprenticeship programs give you the chance to gain a nationally recognised electrical trade qualification and build a career with us, learning from the best in the business.
Apart from a competitive salary, unrivalled job security and excellent working conditions, all your TAFE course and tuition fees along with paid leave to attend TAFE will be covered as part of your apprenticeship.All tools and equipment are supplied.
Earn whilst you learn and enjoy a nine–day fortnight working in an inclusive, friendly team. You’ll be working in the great outdoors and in different locations everyday.
Lineworker (Certificate III in ESI – Distribution Overhead)
A day in the life of a Lineworker involves installation, repair and maintenance of overhead and some underground electrical cable lines and infrastructure. Working in teams, we use elevated work platforms and equipment to raise, replace and maintain poles, hardware and overhead powerlines. We may also install, repair and maintain street lighting systems. Importantly during weather events, our Lineworkers are the ones who respond to power outages due to powerlines affected by storm damage, and ensure our community power outages are minimised.
Meter Technician (Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician)
With the construction of new estates and developments installing power underground, a day in the life of a Cable Jointer involves working in teams, mostly at ground/below ground level where they install and maintain cables and conduits in underground pits and trenches and terminate cables on electrical equipment. We use specialised training, fault finding and work methods to diagnose faults on the underground network.
Substation Electrician (Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician)
A day in the life of a Substation Electrician involves constructing and maintaining electrical zone and ground mounted substations in teams, including finding and fixing faults with electrical plants and equipment such as transformers, circuit breakers, and HV switch gear and LV switchboards.
Cable Jointer (Certificate III in ESI – Distribution Underground)
A day in the life of a Meter Technician involves travelling in a car to individual properties where they install and maintain smart meters. This can involve testing the accuracy of meters, rectification of metering faults and replacement of metering equipment. This position will allow you to enjoy working autonomously (after you have completed your apprenticeship) and regular customer interaction in your day-to-day work.
With the transformation to a modern grid, our team members are also involved in commissioning new smart energy and automation technology to integrate distributed energy sources.
With these qualifications, you’ll gain the skills to work across many different parts of our business. You’ll work in a hands-on environment, helping with the construction and maintenance of overhead and underground electrical lines and structures.
Our apprentices regularly attend off-the-job block training with Registered Training Providers such as Holmesglen TAFE who provide the critical foundational knowledge and basic practical skills for your apprenticeship. All our apprentices are partnered with an experienced tradesperson mentor and a buddy to ensure the most supportive learning and development environment is provided.As a large organisation with more than 2000 staff across Victoria, you’ll have the opportunity to work across a diverse range of interesting roles throughout your career with us.
As a large organisation with more than 2000 employees across Victoria, there’s an opportunity to work across a diverse range of interesting roles throughout your career with us.
Why CitiPower and Powercor?
We have a proven track record as an employer of choice for apprentices. Our apprenticeship program has been running for over 20 years and we currently have over 75 apprentices in our program. Unlike many other companies, we employ our apprentices directly and we are extremely proud of 95% of the apprentices we recruit completing their four yearapprenticeship program and going on to enjoy successful careers in our business.
Who can apply
We want our workforce to be as diverse and engaged as the communities we serve. We welcome applicants of all ages, genders, cultural backgrounds, abilities and LGBTIQ+ identities. We have a strong focus on equal opportunity and encourage women to apply and join our growing group of female apprentices.
To apply, you must be completing (or have completed) Year 11 and achieved a pass in General Maths or currently be completing (or have completed) a pre-apprenticeship TAFE training course in Electrotechnology (Cert II).
How to apply
Firstly, decide which depot location you would like to apply for and which apprenticeship role is of most interest to you. View our locations here.
Our recruitment process includes the following steps:
Application
Online assessment including numerical, mechanical reasoning and reading comprehension
Video interview
Face-to-face interview, including a practical assessment
A Working at Heights assessment
Pre-employment screening includes a reference check, national police check and medical assessment
Applications open July 2023. To review current career opportunities click here.
Our Traineeship Program
At CitiPower Powercor, we deliver fulfilling career pathways providing rewarding learning experiences within a highly supportive work environment. You’ll get to learn from the best in the business, with many of our leaders having started their careers in one of our early career programs such as our traineeships.
As a large organisation with more than 2000 staff across Victoria, you’ll have the opportunity to work across a diverse range of interesting roles throughout your career with us.
THE TRAINEESHIP OPPORTUNITIES WE OFFER
As an Electrical Design Trainee, your main role will be to design additions and alterations to the electricity distribution network to ensure the safe and reliable supply of energy to our customers
Our Traineeships are run over a three-year period, combining formal TAFE study and paid office-based work to enable you to gain the skills, competencies and experience required for an industry-recognised trade qualification Diploma ESI (Electricity Supply Industry). Our traineeships enable work experience from Melbourne to rural and regional Victoria.
Using the computer-based design software skills learned, you’ll enjoy a role that is predominantly office based with field visits to scope and see the results of your work.
Working on big projects, you’ll be helping with the scoping, design and estimating of overhead, underground electrical lines and structures. These designs are given to our construction crews who then build according to the design.
You’ll be inspired through working with people from across our business and coming out of the traineeship with broad career options to make your mark. Upon successful completion of the Traineeship full-time positions will be offered for the following roles:
Technical Design Officer, designing alterations to the network ready for construction
Project Manager, overseeing the delivery of projects to connect customers or improve the network
Customer Requests Officer, providing quotations and information to new customers
Maintenance Officer, ensuring the network operates safely
Technical Drafting Officer, undertaking detailed construction and engineering drawings
Our Traineeship Program
WHO CAN APPLY
We want our workforce to be as diverse and engaged as the communities we serve. We welcome applicants of all ages, genders, cultural backgrounds, abilities and LGBTIQ+ identities. We have a strong focus on equal opportunity and encourage women to apply and join our growing group of female trainees.
To be eligible, our program pre-requisites are:
Year 11 (Unit 1 & 2) pass in Maths Methods; OR
Year 11 Physics
HOW TO APPLY
Our recruitment process includes the following steps:
Application
Online assessment including numerical, mechanical reasoning and reading comprehension
Video screening
Face-to-face interview
Pre-employment screening including a reference check, and national police check
WHY US?
You’ll attain a qualification whilst earning a competitive remuneration package, with generous superannuation.
You’ll have the opportunity to build your career in either regional or metropolitan locations.
You will participate directly in fieldwork and gain exposure to industry-leading practices with the state’s best-performing electricity distribution business.
You’ll have the opportunity to work on projects from start to finish as your development progresses.
Your development will be maximised via rotations across multiple teams and areas to allow you to expand your foundation of skills and capability.
We assign each Trainee a mentor to ensure your growth is prioritised.
WHEN WE RECRUIT
Applications open annually around July/August.
Scholarships
We are committed to empowering our people and encouraging career development in multiple areas relevant to our network operations, maintenance, and management.
Women in Engineering scholarships
This important program encourages women to explore exciting opportunities in electrical engineering.
Developed in association with leading universities, the program offers a three-year scholarship that includes:
$10,000 a year in financial assistance over a three-year period.
12 weeks of paid work experience a year.
A personal mentor throughout your work experience and scholarship.
Automatic inclusion as a candidate for our graduate engineering program.
Applications for scholarships are invited from students of:
University of Melbourne. Bachelor of Science, specialising in Electrical Systems and intending to begin the Masters of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
Swinburne University of Technology. Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) or Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Professional) with a major in Electrical Engineering.
RMIT University. Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, specialising in Power Engineering.
Applications are open between August and December.
WOMEN’S PRE-APPRENTICESHIP SCHOLARSHIP
The CitiPower and Powercor scholarship for women undertaking a Pre Apprenticeship TAFE Cert II in Electrotechnology course was established in 2017 to support students with a desire to enter the electrical industry and help increase the number of women enter into a career in trades.
The scholarship is awarded to female student/s who demonstrate commitment and motivation to succeed in building a career in the electrical industry. The money can be used for costs such as school fees, tools, PPE, clothing, rent, childcare or to supplement an income whilst attending the course.
There is no obligation on the recipient to apply for a role with Powercor. However, recipients are put on the candidate list for our apprenticeship program when the program opens for applications. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, please contact us via careers@powercor.com.au.
Vacation Program
This program is designed for students who are coming into their last year of undergraduate studies in electrical, mechanical or civil engineering disciplines.
Taking part in paid work experience provides genuine insight into our network. Opportunities are available over a 12-week period from November to February.
Working on live projects, you’ll gain practical skills and hands-on experience. You’ll also be fully supported by an experienced mentor who will introduce you to the business and the diversity of opportunities it offers.
This is your opportunity to learn from the best and really put your theories into practice. Our program will give you first-hand experiences, you’ll be exposed to technical and interesting work on real-life projects, and you’ll be working within teams of highly skilled professionals, solving problems and delivering outcomes.
You’ll be supported in a workplace that’s both dynamic and welcoming and where there’s a focus on inclusivity, collaboration, and rewarding the individual and their aspirations.
After completing our Vacation Program, you will be shortlisted to apply for our Graduate Program, which could lead to a permanent opportunity in our business.
Applications open in July or August each year.
Community
One of the best parts of our job is getting out there and supporting the communities we’re a part of.
Volunteering
It feels good to do good. That’s why we encourage employees from across the business to take part in group volunteering activities with recognised charities and community organisations. To support this, we offer all employees time off with pay for at least one day (or 7.5 hours) of volunteer work each year.
Our people have invested thousands of volunteer hours with community-based programs such as Foodbank, Landcare, and the Red Cross Blood Bank. This community involvement has a positive impact on both the business – and our team members.
All the communities across our networks are distinctive in different ways. But what many people tend to agree on is that clubs and associations of all forms of sports are often at the heart. We partner with a number of organisations and events in the communities in which we operate. We hope you enjoy them.
Cricket Victoria
This ‘whole of cricket’ sponsorship with CitiPower involves a number of initiatives designed to provide the community with an unparalleled opportunity to engage with the sport.
The CitiPower Centre at Junction Oval is the flagship facility for cricket in Victoria and is accessible for all levels of cricket participation – from entry level to elite. It is a facility for the use of the entire community.
Through our partnership, we also support the Victorian Men’s Cricket Team, the Diamonds in the Bush program aimed at unearthing young talent, and the annual All Abilities Carnival providing a unique opportunity to support teams including deaf, blind, intellectually disabled and Indigenous players.
Importantly, we have also partnered in a joint venture called the CitiPower and Cricket Victoria Canteen Grant. This is offering up to $250,000 between 2019 and 2023 in $5,000 grants to community-based cricket clubs to address electrical safety issues and improve services offered by cricket club canteens and clubhouses.
Powercor partners with the Australian Football League’s (AFL) Essendon and Geelong Football Clubs to put on the annual Powercor Country Festival.
The Festival connects the city with regional communities across Victoria and provides an opportunity for us to show our gratitude for the contribution people in the country make to our daily lives and the State’s prosperity.
Two games are played in the series each year – one at a regional Victorian ground and the other at Melbourne’s iconic MCG supported by a community festival.
The Powercor Country Festival also supports a grass-roots awards program to recognise the vital work of volunteers in our communities. In association with the Weekly Times, the Heart Volunteer Awards recognised volunteers for their contribution to community services and emergency services.
This partnership with the Lorne Surf Lifesaving Club makes us the naming rights partner of the Lorne Pier to Pub, the largest ocean swim race in the world.
Over 5,500 swimmers regularly take part in this event in January each year which also features the Powercor Mountain to Surf event with over 2,000 competitors running the 8km course.
Powercor supports Australia’s longest-running and most prestigious road race, the 262-kilometre Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic.
Our partnership as the naming rights sponsor helped to ensure the future of this historic race which is the second oldest one-day race in the world and a cultural feature of the south-coast region.
Australia’s most prestigious professional foot race, the Stawell Gift, has a new naming rights partner with Powercor signing on to a five-year deal from 2021.
An iconic Easter tradition, the three days of competition have across the years welcomed some of the most recognised names in international athletics including Sydney 2000 gold medallist Catherine Freeman, renowned sprinters Asafa Powell and Maurice Greene and middle-distance charge Craig Mottram.
It is also an important event for the regional community of Stawell and surrounding regions which rely on the economic contribution made when visitors come from across Australia for this event.
Our remuneration and benefits packages are designed to be attractive and competitive. When you are offered a role with us, the package included will be based on the scope of the role you are being recruited for, benchmarked guidance on comparative roles within the industry and your own skills and experience.
In addition, there is a wide range of other benefits available:
Health and wellbeing subsidy: Covers the cost of a wide range of health, fitness and mental health activities and subscriptions, up to $600 per year.
Corporate health insurance plan: A 7% discount on BUPA health insurance cover
Education assistance program: Support to pursue further education programs
Personal accident and sickness insurance: Income protection to support you financially if you’re unable to work.
Leave benefits: Include standard annual leave, long service leave, sick leave and carers leave – as well as purchased leave, paid parental leave of up to 15 weeks for the primary carer, adoption leave and domestic violence leave.
Workplace giving: Donate regularly to a registered charity through an easy payroll deduction.
Volunteering: Take part in group activities with registered charities or utilise one day off a year as Community Day leave.
Social clubs: Discounted benefits for socialising with your colleagues.
Myki Commuter Club: A 10% saving on an annual Myki pass paid in fortnightly instalments.
Annual health checks and vaccination programs: Provided by our specialist partners and made available through our offices and depots.
Personal technology devices: Includes iPhones, iPads and laptops with remote access capability, enabling flexible working conditions and maximum efficiency.
Staff Awards: For many, the ultimate reward comes via our Living our Values Awards. Each year we recognise and reward our LOVA People of the Year – those whose performance is an outstanding demonstration of our values and vision. Winners of the seven individual and six team awards receive a financial prize as well as the opportunity to nominate a registered charity the business will donate to.
Our Bright Sparks Work Experience Program
You don’t need to tell us how vital work experience is for young people – especially young girls looking to get into typically male-dominated industries.
Last December, Year 11 student, Jaida from the Academy of Mary Immaculate in Fitzroy participated in the CitiPower, Powercor and United Energy Bright Sparks work experience program.
The week-long program offers female-identifying and non-binary students the chance to explore what a career in engineering, IT or electrical trades might look like. It also helps connect them with leading professionals in the industry to learn more about the opportunities on offer.
We were lucky to get a Q&A with Jaida and her supervisor Steffi Vanderveen, Senior Asset Engineer, to learn more about the highlights of her experience!
Jaida, what sparked your interest in exploring a work experience opportunity in engineering?
There were a few drivers. Both my dad and maths teacher thought I’d be a good engineer because I’m good at maths, and in my physics class, many girls talked about wanting to be engineers.
Hearing their thoughts on engineering prompted me to contact my school careers counsellor to help find a work experience placement.
What were some of the things you noticed about yourself – your skills, knowledge, and preferences – from this work experience week?
What stands out to me is there are heaps of different places you can go in your career if you study electrical engineering. Before coming to UE, I thought I wanted to study civil engineering, but I’ve now changed my mind. I can see the career paths are broader if I study electrical engineering, and the roles are exciting.
I didn’t expect it to be so fun in the office. Everyone talks and gets along. Everyone looks like friends, and I like that. I talked to a guy who created substations from nothing; he drew up the plans and created them. He travelled to Taiwan to test it out, and I’d love to do that. I like the idea of making something out of nothing and using my strengths in maths.
What were some of the things you noticed about the team?
All the people I talked to are passionate and love what they do. It’s great to see, and they’ve been so happy to talk to me for an hour out of their day.
There’s a lot of collaboration, helping each other, and it’s a team environment. I see there’s a lot of problem-solving too. You don’t realise the importance of what they do until you listen to them.
What surprised you most during your week of work experience?
Probably the different roles you can do with the one degree at United Energy. I spoke to people who have friends who have done the same degree and are doing something different again.
There’s so much you can do in electrical engineering!
If you had to summarise the value – what you gained – from this experience, what would that be?
Very eye-opening, and now I know what I’m going to do next. I’m going to apply to do Electrical Engineering at RMIT, and it was so great to hear about the Women in Engineering scholarship you offer. I’ll definitely apply.
What advice would you give someone considering this work experience?
Definitely do it! I’m so glad I did; now I’m confident I know what I want to study at uni. Engineering is not for everyone, but you should try it out. The week went really fast.
Steffi, why do you feel work experience is important?
I didn’t have these opportunities when I was Jaida’s age, and I don’t want girls intimidated by this career path. Work experience is so helpful for students at such a confusing time when they’re asked to make one of the biggest decisions of their lives.
By sharing my knowledge and personal experience within the industry, I can help others choose this rewarding career pathway. Knowledge is power; the more girls know about the real-life applications we do, it will help them make more informed decisions.
As a female in the industry, I think it’s also essential to support the future generation of women in understanding the job opportunities available, particularly as so few girls choose to study engineering. I want to help at this critical decision-making time, demystify electrical engineering, and showcase career opportunities.
What prompted you to study electrical engineering?
At school, I was good at physics and maths and coming from a family of engineers, it almost felt like a natural progression. My brother, who is also an electrical engineer, greatly influenced me as he was passionate about it and showed me the great things we can achieve with this degree. I believe a degree in electrical engineering offers you a great breadth of future career choices in various industries due to the transferrable skills it equips you with.
Since I am somewhat of an extrovert, I initially considered a career in law or medicine – something with a lot of human interaction. However, from my personal experience, I can confidently say that engineering offers this, too; it all comes down to the opportunities you choose to accept and what you make of them. Looking at future proofing, with automation and the rapidly changing tech landscape, I could see engineering was the way of the future with everything becoming ‘e’.
I also loved the challenge of being a minority within this industry and saw the opportunity to make a huge impact with the diversity in thought that females could bring to this field. I’ve given Jaida the same advice I was given early on in my career, don’t feel like you must have it all figured out right from the start; take the leap of faith and give it a go; you absolutely won’t regret it!
Are You Ready to Light the Fuse?
If hearing about Jaida’s experience has inspired you and like to be the next Bright Spark taking part in the work experience program, expressions of interest for 2023 are now open!
To participate, you must be a female-identifying or non-binary student with a passion for engineering, IT or electrical trades. No previous experience is necessary, but interested students need to be curious, motivated and willing to step out of their comfort zone.
Ready to make your spark?
CLICK HERE to complete an expression of interest for work experience in 2023.
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Applications are now open | 2023 Apprentice Recruitment
Life at CitiPower and Powercor as a Powerline Apprentice
Inclusion & Diversity
Diversity & Inclusion
People at CitiPower and Powercor have diverse backgrounds, cultures, religions, LGBTIQ+ identities, ages and education levels.
Building an inclusive working environment ensures everyone is valued and trusted and feels safe to be their whole authentic self.
Our Inclusion and Diversity Committee develops and implements ways of working that aim to make our workplaces as inclusive and diverse as possible. Our Inclusion and Diversity Strategy focuses on four key factors:
Inclusion: Recognising and supporting LGBTIQ+ communities through our Sparkle Pride network, cultural diversity and the inclusion of those with disabilities to ensure all have a sense of belonging. Special dates such as Wear it Purple Day and Diwali have events and educational opportunities organised across the organisation.
Gender diversity: Working towards greater gender balance across our business, filling more jobs and leadership positions with women, including development opportunities.
Aboriginal engagement: Creating pathways for Indigenous employment and opportunities to involve Indigenous organisations in the work we do.
Flexible working conditions: Ensuring flexible options are available that balance the needs of our people with the needs of the business – in a way that is beneficial for both.
Supporting Gender Diversity
The organisation is committed to gender targets set to ensure continuous improvement in the representation of both women in leadership and women in each business unit.
We’re investing for the future – ensuring diversity in field and trade roles; through the provision of apprenticeships, graduates and scholarship programs to support both.
We are proud to be a WORK180-endorsed employer for women. Our commitment to helping all women thrive in the workplace includes initiatives such as our Women in Power network, Women in Engineering scholarships, Women studying Pre-Apprenticeships in Electrotechnology scholarships, a generous parental leave policy, flexible working options and our extensive health and wellbeing program.
Our Women in Power network was formed in 2017 and is a group of passionate women and men in the business who are working together to achieve our vision of “connecting women”. The network plans a calendar of events throughout the year, such as International Women’s Day events, development sessions, volunteering and networking opportunities focused on developing and retaining women in our business.
Some facts about our team
2,000: How many people work with us, many of them working with our Network Services team and Customer Group.
12 years: The average length of service across our team.
25%: Our target for the number of women in our workforce by 2026, with 22% of our managerial roles held by women too.
44 years: The average age of our team members.
LGBTIQ+ at CitiPower and Powercor
People at CitiPower and Powercor have diverse backgrounds, cultures, religions, LGBTIQ+ identities, ages and education levels.
Building an inclusive working environment ensures everyone is valued and trusted and feels safe to be their whole authentic self.
Sparkle, our pride network, marks events significant to LGBTIQ+ people, such as Wear it Purple Day, IDAHOBIT and Pride; promotes the use of inclusive language in the workplace and runs networking events to help establish a sense of community.
STEM
Our teams are at the forefront of finding solutions to huge challenges in how we contribute to achieving net zero emissions, keep our networks safe and reliable in the face of climate change, and make the most of new technology to benefit our customers and communities.
Hear from some industry-leading experts driving the change and innovation necessary to build safe and resilient networks, help reduce carbon emissions and support some of the biggest projects in Victoria.
Digital Innovation
Digital Product Manager Peter McKay is the architect of new technologies that are used to manage and maintain our vast and often remote network. Using big data, smart technology and a couple of helicopters, his team has enabled the use of LiDAR analytics for asset and vegetation management. They’re now using high-resolution UAV photography captured by drones to help with remote pole inspections.
Community Battery Programs
Collaborating with communities, energy retailers and government is the realm of Regulated Opportunities Lead Genevieve Hart, who is managing a portfolio of projects supporting community energy ambitions, particularly with respect to the rollout of batteries to support networks and greater solar exports.
Batteries will be an essential part of our networks in the future as we transition to more renewable energy. That is because, in a clean energy future, power is plentiful in the middle of the day.
By storing energy locally, batteries perform an important role in addressing the mismatch between when renewable energy is abundant and when household electricity demand is highest in the late afternoon and evening peak. The stored energy can be shared and used when it is needed most.
5-Minute Settlement
This $55 million project meant significant changes to 44 of our systems in one of the largest IT projects undertaken by our business. It enables customers’ smart meters and their associated systems to collect, store and send data about energy consumption in 5-minute increments.
Led by IT Delivery Lead, Market Compliance, Eugene Tverdolov, this 3-year project was delivered on time in late 2021 by a team of over 100. It has established an IT system capability vital for enabling customer participation in future energy markets through aggregators and Virtual Power Plants.
Advanced Network Safety in Bushfire Risk Areas
Luke Plocinski was part of the pioneering Powercor team responsible for installing advanced network safety devices in high bushfire risk areas. The team won the 2021 Victorian Project of the Year Award from the Australian Institute of Project Management for the outstanding delivery of the second of three phases of the multi-year rollout.
International Award for Project Management
Nick Casey was part of the CitiPower Urban Projects team that won Gold at the 2021 International Project Management Association Awards. This was for their work in supporting the Department of Transport and Yarra Trams to create the first fully accessible tram route in Melbourne.
There are currently no jobs available
Unfortunately there are currently no positions available at Beon, CitiPower, Powercor, and United Energy, please check back soon.
Awards
Top Graduate Employers
The Australian Association of Graduate Employers, 2023
Events
Expired
CitiPower Powercor Apprenticeship and Traineeship Information Evening
This is the perfect opportunity to learn everything you need to know about careers at CitiPower Powercor.
July 25, 2023 |
Free
CitiPower and Powercor own and operate the electricity distribution networks servicing 1.2 million customers located across 65% of Victoria. Knowing you’re responsible for providing an essential service upon which thousands of lives and businesses depend, is a sure-fire way to feel valued and deeply connected to the community.
