Hilltops Council recently hosted two university work experience students who indicated an interest in pursuing their careers in the Hilltops Region once they’ve completed their studies.
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Council General Manager Anthony McMahon said the enthusiasm of students Kathleen Carmody and Kathleen Bolger, together with their interest in working in local government down the track, was a positive for the sector.
“It is great to be able to get students into the organisation and hopefully provide them with some practical insight into what they are learning through their studies,” he said.
“From Council’s perspective, and an overall industry perspective, planners and engineers are two of the fields where qualified and skilled people are hard to come by.
“Hopefully by providing work experience with Council, we may be able to encourage them into a career in local government,” he said.
Having grown up in Canberra, Kathleen Bolger has been studying at RMIT University in Melbourne. She spent a number of weeks based in the Hilltops Council Harden office with the Council’s sustainable growth team, describing it as a “really interesting place to work”.
“The people here have been so welcoming. I have really enjoyed the opportunity to work with and learn from others in the organisation,” she said
“I always enjoy exploring the beautiful Hilltops area and meeting new people. It’s also been a great place for me to visit family and friends in nearby Wagga and Canberra.
“I would love to come back after I finish my studies, It’s a great opportunity and everyone should give it a go, there is such a diversity of issues and challenges in regional areas,” she said.
Currently studying at Sydney University Kathleen Carmody grew up in Boorowa and spent a number of months in the Hilltops’ Boorowa office with the infrastructure team and believes a career in local government would be really rewarding.
“Having the opportunity to get practical experience in civil engineering has been amazing,” she said.
“It has been great to see the diversity in the work that Council does. I feel like I have gained a practical understanding of the role of engineers in local government.
“The amazing team in Boorowa have taught me so much, they have made the experience so valuable.
“I grew up in Boorowa, so Hilltops is home to me, there is such a friendly atmosphere here and the community is so supportive of young people.
“Everyone should go for it, working in regional areas gives you an amazing opportunity to work on diverse projects,m and really get to know the people in the community you are working for,” she said.