Opportunity of a lifetime for Aggreko trainees in FNQ

The daily commute is a five-hour round trip involving three modes of transport, but for ‘the Billys’ in Far North Queensland, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. 

Ai Group Apprentice and Trainee Centre (Ai Group ATC) trainees Billy Reynolds, left, and Billy Daniel have landed school-based traineeships with Aggreko at the Amrun solar farm it operates at Rio Tinto’s bauxite mine in Weipa, on the Cape York Peninsula. 

Ai Group ATC Lead Employment & Training Consultant Jenni Southern flew up from Brisbane to onboard the Year 11 boys earlier this month. 

Ai Group ATC’s Jenni Southern welcomes the boys and their parents.

“The amount of support that these young men have — from Australian Industry Group, their school, their training organisation and from Aggreko — is next level,” Ms Southern said. 

“Everyone is working so well together, because our aim is to make sure they succeed.” 

The boys, who both have First Nations heritage, have embarked on a Certificate II Engineering. 

They’re hosted by Australian Industry Group member Aggreko and will work one day a week at the Amrun site during their two-year traineeship while completing Years 11 and 12. 

“It’s a very exciting day per week, catching the Rio Tinto-run ferry to the Amrun site and having full access to the site’s mess and recreational facilities,” Ms Southern said. 

“Aggreko is supplying them with a laptop, tablet and phone, as well as PPE.” 

First day 

The first day last week was full of new experiences.  

“The boys had a great day but a long one,” Ms Southern said.  

“It’s a 2.5-hour trip to get to the site involving a ferry, bus and car.  

“They get breakfast on arrival, as well as morning tea and lunch on site because their working day is so long — they’ve got to be at the ferry at 5am and don’t get back until about 5.30pm. That’s dedication: five hours of travel and seven hours of work.   

“They’ve had a site tour, were shown the generators and completed Aggreko inductions. 

“Seeing the V16 twin turbo diesel generators was a highlight.” 

Ongoing support 

The boys will receive ongoing support from Ai Group ATC throughout their traineeships. 

“As well as flying up to Weipa to meet ‘the Billys’ face to face earlier this month, I’ll go up three times a year to make sure they’re doing OK,” Ms Southern said. 

Landing at Weipa airport.

“We’ll also have online meetings every six weeks, to give them frequent opportunities to ask me questions. 

“Their school, Western Cape College, and the onsite trainer, Major Training, are both fantastic partners.  

“It’s the first time Aggreko has had Ai Group ATC apprentices or trainees in Far North Qld, so we’re all united in our commitment to ensure the experience is a success. 

“Crucially, the boys’ parents are supportive, which is just fantastic.” 

National partner 

It was Ai Group ATC National Account Manager Bec Tindal, based in Melbourne, who got the ball rolling with the employment arrangements for the Weipa trainees. 

“Aggreko, an existing host company with Ai Group ATC, approached Bec for support to manage and coordinate the traineeships at the Amrun site,” Ms Southern said. 

“It’s a perfect example of how employers benefit from Ai Group ATC’s national reach.  

“We have offices and staff right around the country, and we’re willing to travel from tip to Tassie to ensure our trainees, apprentices and host companies all benefit from being part of Ai Group ATC.” 

Just the beginning 

“Aggreko is an international company, so the opportunities to forge exciting and rewarding careers are huge,” Ms Southern said. 

“There’s room for the boys to transition into apprenticeships when they finish their traineeships. Aggreko is already impressed with both of them and excited to have them on board. 

“It’s very exciting for the boys and we hope to replicate this great initiative — with its excellent community engagement — in remote areas around Australia.”