Career Pathways
Council offers a variety of entry-level opportunities for those starting their career, retraining in something new as well as those needing practical work experience to support their studies. Opportunities include apprenticeships and traineeships, work experience, volunteers, cadetships, vacation placement and our graduate program.
Recruitment campaigns for apprenticeships and traineeships are commenced each year (generally in the latter part of each year) as required. Each year the number and opportunities vary to match operational needs offered across Council’s diverse vocations. Cadetships and Vacation placements are offered in line with tertiary intakes.
Visit Current Vacancies to see the current opportunities available.
Apprenticeships & Traineeships
Our apprenticeships and traineeships are a great opportunity to get a head start in your chosen career. They combine practical work with structured training to give you a nationally recognised qualification and the experience you need to be successful.
Minimum education standards are required. Recruitment generally commences in the mid-latter part of each year, with positions commencing early the following year.
If you are looking to start your working career with a nationally recognised qualification, enjoy working in a team environment and want to earn while you learn, then you need to talk to council.
Apprenticeship areas may include:
- Electrical
- Mechanical
- Horticulture.
Traineeship areas may include:
- Business
- IT Service Support
- Laboratory Techniques
- Library and Information Services.
Applications for the 2023 intake are now closed. Applications for 2024 intake open late June 2023.
Work Experience
Townsville City Council’s work experience program is designed to provide participants with an insight into how local government operates and to provide them with knowledge and practical experience in the field or industry of interest.
All work experience opportunities that we host are of an unpaid, voluntary nature. Participants must be registered with a recognised school or tertiary institution agency that covers them for personal insurance and public liability.
Council will endeavour to provide work experience whenever possible, however this is not always possible due to the availability of resources and workplace health and safety requirements.
Eligibility
To be eligible for our work experience program you must either be:
- a secondary school student who is at least 14 years old
- a student undertaking a qualification with a registered training organisation
- a university student (if work experience is a mandatory requirement to complete the relevant course).
How to apply
You must apply at least four weeks before you want to start work experience.
- STEP 1
- Email us at HR Enquiries with details including student name, requested dates, area of interest and any other relevant information.
- STEP 2
- Your request will be forwarded to the relevant section who will confirm whether the placement is available. If a placement is found, the work experience placement form will be emailed to the student/career advisor.
- STEP 3
- Signed documents must be received by People and Culture a minimum 2 weeks prior to placement commencement.
- STEP 4
- Once all paperwork is returned signed to People and Culture the placement is confirmed. We ask the student to contact their work experience supervisor the week before their placement to discuss any requirements for their first day.
Volunteers
If you are not currently a registered student, you may be interested in volunteering at Council. Council is committed to supporting individual members of the public and community groups who choose to volunteer their time to enhance the provision of services to the community. To find out what volunteer opportunities are available visit Volunteering North Queensland at https://www.vnq.org.au/volunteer/. Or submit your interest by emailing us at hrenquiries@townsville.qld.gov.au.
For further information please contact the People and Culture Section on 13 48 10.
Cadetships
We offer a range of cadetships, each providing practical work structured around the relevant field of study.
Entry subjects and requirements vary with each cadetship. Areas include:
- Civil Design
- Engineer
- Environmental Health
- Surveyor.
Vacation Placement
Council also provides a number of opportunities that enable tertiary students to undertake their course-required work experience placement that will facilitate the development of valuable employability skills.
If you would like to be considered for placement opportunity during university break, please contact your College’s Career Advisor who will provide you with information on applying for our opportunities.
To view any training-based employment opportunities that are available, look under current job vacancies.
All opportunities are advertised on our website as they become available.
For further information on opportunities to work with council, please contact Human Resources, Recruitment Team on 13 48 10 or email us.
Graduate Program
Our two-year graduate program provides you the freedom and autonomy to work on your own, supported by industry professionals, to deliver innovative and challenging projects.
You’ll work towards improving community and business outcomes, while being fully supported in your career development and growth. Consolidate the theory of your degree into practical on-the-job experience.
As a Graduate you will be exposed to:
- diverse and challenging work across your area of expertise
- training and development opportunities
- a leading safety culture
- coaching and mentoring.
Applications for the 2023 intake are now closed. Applications for 2024 will open mid-late this year. For Council’s current job vacancies, visit Careers.
Work Skills Traineeships
Work Skills Traineeships provide paid employment opportunities to disadvantaged Queenslanders while at the same time funding projects that leave a visible and long-lasting impact on social infrastructure and services in a local community.
