Cairns Regional Council

About the Council

Career Opportunities

Cairns Regional Council is proud to offer a wide range of career opportunities to current and new employees. Whether you’re a school leaver, professional working mum or tradesperson, we could have a position that suits your interests, lifestyle and career plans.  Council has an exciting job to do in our community. Why not be part of it?

Electrician Land Management Officer Training Awards 2008 Traineeship in Business Administration

Graduate | Cadetship | Apprenticeship | Traineeship | Work Experience

Graduate Position

Cairns Regional Council offers Graduate positions in various disciplines including Engineering, Accounting and Commerce.  As a Graduate you are employed by Council shortly after you have completed external studies at University.

Graduate positions generally rotate through various working units exposing you to different areas in your particular discipline.  You will gain valuable knowledge, training and experience to enhance your career.

Graduate positions are advertised as they become available.  Please visit Current Vacancies.

Cadetship

Cairns Regional Council offers Cadet positions in various disciplines including Engineering, Planning, Surveying, Accounting, Commerce, Construction and Social Sciences.  As a cadet you are employed by Council whilst undertaking external studies at University. This means you receive payment to work while you study allowing you to earn while you learn. 

Best of all you’ll gain valuable knowledge, training and experience to enhance your career!

Cadetships are advertised as they become available.  Please visit Current Vacancies.

Apprenticeship

An apprentice participates in a training program combining work and structured training. It is usually a four year program.

When you complete the apprenticeship, you’ll be a qualified tradesperson with a variety of options available to you.

Council offers apprenticeships in a range of areas including:

Certificate III in Electro technology Systems Electrician
Certificate III in Plumbing
Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade ( Fitter and Turner)
Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical (Diesel Fitting)
Certificate III in Engineering – (Fabrication Boilermaker)

All apprentices are employed through Cairns Region Group Training.

Traineeship

A traineeship is 12 – 18 months. It involves on and off the job training through Tafe colleges or another registered training organisation.

Council offers apprenticeships in a range of areas including:

Certificate III Business
Certificate II/III Civil Construction
Certificate II/III Horticulture
Certificate III Information Technology
Certificate III in Library and Information Services

Traineeships are advertised as they become available. Please visit Current Vacancies.

Apprenticeship and Traineeship Program

Cairns Regional Council’s apprentice and trainee program:

  • Is nationally recognised
  • Pays you while you learn and develop skills
  • Helps you to build a successful career
  • Has attractive and supportive working conditions

Conditions in Applying for an Apprenticeship or Traineeship

You must be:

  • 15 years and over
  • an Australian or New Zealand citizen
  • a person with a permanent residency visa or a protection visa, or
  • the fiancé of or recently married to an Australian citizen and the holder of a temporary residency visa under subclass 820 and 309

You must not:

  • Have undertaken and completed a funded traineeship (for traineeships only and does not apply to a school based traineeship)
  • Hold a qualification in the same field or in a related to that of the proposed traineeship
  • Have a qualification that is equal to or higher than the qualification you will receive by undertaking the traineeship

School-Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship

As a school-based apprentice or trainee you can at the same time

  • complete your Senior Certificate
  • get paid
  • complete a nationally recognised qualification

Trainees will be working with Cairns Regional Council one day per week. Depending on your trade, apprentices will work either one or two days per week.

Training will relate specifically to your apprenticeship or traineeship. This training will be negotiated with your school and is done in school time.

Educational Requirements for an Apprenticeship

For Electrical apprenticeships you must be doing or have completed year 12 with at least a sound achievement (or equivalent) in Mathematics and English.  For all other trades you must have completed Year 10 with a pass in Mathematics and English (pre-vocational or vocational education is desirable).

Work Experience

Requests for work experience should be made in writing and can be sent directly to the Learning and Development Unit. Once your request has been received you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within a week. It should however be remembered that Cairns Regional Council is not obligated to provide work experience and the work experience does not involve payment for work done.

In your written request please include the following:

  1. Contact details (full address and contact phone number during business hours)
  2. The type of work experience you would like
  3. Start and finish dates for the work experience period
  4. The name of your school/college and a contact name and phone number
  5. Proof of Public Liability coverage - Insurance (see below)

Public Liability Coverage

Prior to Cairns Regional Council considering your request, proof of Public Liability cover must be produced.

If you are required to complete work experience as part of your course of study or schooling, your college or school will have the appropriate Public Liability coverage. Proof of this is to be supplied in your written request for work experience.

Individuals not participating in college or school programs can apply for Public Liability coverage with insurance companies. Proof of this is to be supplied in your written request for work experience.