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Yallourn power station has welcomed three new apprentices this year.
Joel Baillie, Lachlan Bennett and Shannon Clarke have put the high-vis on and are enjoying learning about Yallourn and developing new skills.
EnergyAustralia’s Head of Yallourn, Greg McIntyre, said he was pleased to see Yallourn continuing to provide apprenticeships.
“Yallourn might be retiring in mid-2028 but we haven’t stopped putting on apprentices and will keep doing this right through until the closure. We’re committed to giving opportunities to the Valley’s young people for as long as we can,” said Greg.
“It's a great feeling to see a new generation of young locals getting their start at Yallourn. I’m sure the skills they learn here will set them up for long and rewarding careers in energy.
“Plus, I’m pleased that three people who completed their apprenticeships at the end of last year will be staying on – employed as fully qualified tradespeople at Yallourn. It’s great for us to keep people we’ve helped train and develop. And I know they’re pleased to have ongoing employment with us.
Joel Simpson (fitter), Carmel Jenkinson (electrical and instrumentation) and Tyler Parsons (boilermaker) are now permanent members of Yallourn’s maintenance team.
Carmel Jenkinson said she’s pleased to now be fully qualified in her field.
“I really enjoyed my five-year dual-trade apprenticeship. It was a great mix of formal training and learning on the job. And being a female apprentice wasn’t a barrier. EnergyAustralia gives every apprentice the same opportunity to learn and develop their skills, no matter their gender or background, so I’d encourage other women to apply in future.
“I’m excited to be able to continue my journey - now as a permanent and fully-qualified member of the Yallourn team,” said Carmel.
As well as EnergyAustralia’s trainee and apprenticeship programs, major maintenance programs using local suppliers and workers will also continue up until Yallourn’s retirement.
Plans are currently being developed for Yallourn post-closure, including safe decommissioning of the power station and investigating turning the mine into a lake.