FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• HOW DO I KNOW IF THE APPRENTICESHIP OR TRAINEESHIP IS RIGHT FOR ME?

  It’s often hard to know if you will enjoy or succeed in your apprenticeship or traineeship before you commence.

  Although it can be a very rewarding industry, there is a lot more to these apprenticeships and traineeships than meets the eye. We recommend you take some time to learn a little more about these trade specialisations on our website. Find out more about the trades on offer here.

• WHAT DO I NEED TO APPLY?

  You will need a cover letter and a resume highlighting your interests in the chosen trade and the relevant skills you will bring to your apprenticeship/traineeship.

  A cover letter is your opportunity to tell us:

  • a little bit about you,
  • why you want the apprenticeship/traineeship, and
  • what makes you right for this role.

  Tell us about what interests you, what you do in the local community and why it will make you a great apprentice or trainee for the Shell operated QGC business.

  Think of your resume as a catalogue of your skills and experience. We’d like to see your school and subjects listed along with your grades and any pre-vocational certificates you have completed, plus any full-time or part-time work.

  Make sure you include any work experience or volunteer work where you may have had the opportunity to be part of a team. And don’t forget to list any clubs or groups you are actively involved in.

  You will need to include two (2) referees and their contact details in your resume. It’s a good idea to have your referees in mind and start talking to them about providing a reference if you are successful in moving forward with your application.

  A great referee is someone who knows your skills and strengths, has managed or mentored you, and can tell us about what will make you a great apprentice or trainee. They might be a teacher at school, a manager at work, or a coach of a sports team you play for.

• WHO CAN APPLY?

  We value diversity and we encourage people from all walks of life to apply including women, mature age applicants, school leavers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and any Western Downs locals looking to take on an apprenticeship or traineeship commitment. Overall we are looking for someone that has:

  • a focus on safety
  • great communication skills
  • a thirst to learn and a willingness to adapt to an ever-changing environment.

• I'M OVER 21 AND CONSIDERED MATURE AGE, CAN I STILL APPLY?

  Yes absolutely, MIGAS (and the Shell operated QGC business) employs matured aged apprentices and trainees and your life experience is of great value. If your skills and experience match the requirements of the role and you are genuinely interested in developing a trade career, we encourage you to apply regardless of your age.

• IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO TRADITIONAL OWNERS/ABORIGINAL/TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLES?

  The Shell operated QGC business has unique relationships with Traditional Owner groups across the Western Downs Region. These groups include Bigambul, Mandandanji, Barunggam, Cobble Cobble, Jarowair, Yiman/Iman, Western Wakka Wakka and Wulli Wulli. QGC and MIGAS recognise that these Traditional Owners have historic and enduring affiliations with, and responsibilities for, the lands on which the Shell operated QGC business operates. This recognition has been reflected in a number of Cultural Heritage Agreements and Indigenous Land Use Agreements which include commitments to economic development opportunities for Traditional Owners and other Indigenous Australians. We take these relationships and commitments seriously, and have a number of initiatives to support Traditional Owners in employment, training and business.

  MIGAS and the Shell operated QGC business have partnered in 2019 to deliver the Western Downs Indigenous Careers program which supports Traditional Owners to find employment and training in the region. Find out more.

  If you have already completed a Certificate II qualification or have industry related work experience, we strongly encourage you to apply to QGC Pathways 2020 intake.

• I LIVE OUTSIDE THE WESTERN DOWNS REGION CAN I APPLY?

  We strongly recommend that only applicants living in the Western Downs region apply for these roles. If you live outside of the region your application may not be considered, thank you for your interest.

  We strongly encourage Aboriginal Traditional Owners who have connections within the Western Downs Region and aspire to come back and work ‘on country’ to apply. Please outline this in your cover letter to assist our recruitment team in identifying your application. 

  Be mindful that in order to participate in the selection process you will also be required to travel to Chinchilla at your own expense. 

• ARE RELOCATION COSTS COVERED?

  We will not cover the cost to relocate you and/or your family as a new apprentice or trainee.

• CAN I APPLY FOR MULTIPLE ROLES?

  Yes, you certainly can.

  To be considered for multiple roles you must apply for each position separately. Each trade is very different and requires different strengths and interests.

  We suggest you develop a tailored cover letter for each role you are applying for, highlighting your strengths in the different apprenticeships and traineeships on offer.

• HOW LONG IS THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS AND WHAT’S INVOLVED?

  A place within the QGC Pathways program is highly competitive and the selection process can take a number of weeks. You must participate in each stage to be considered for an apprenticeship or traineeship position.

  The full selection process will involve:

  STAGE 1 - Phone Screen

  Successful candidates will be contacted for a phone screen to briefly discuss the details of their application and clarify any questions upfront specific to the role. Those applicants who successfully pass the phone screen will be asked to participate in a more formal Skype or FaceTime interview and arrangements will be made to confirm a suitable time.

  STAGE 2 - Interview

  Candidates will be interviewed by a MIGAS Recruitment Officer via Skype, FaceTime or phone to assess suitability for progression to the next stage of the process. In this stage candidates will also be asked to participate in online skills testing and reference checking. It’s important to include two (2) referees and their contact details in your resume.

  STAGE 3 - Assessment Centre

  Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an assessment centre, where they will participate in team activities and supervised testing. Candidates will be required to attend for one day at the QGC Training Centre in Chinchilla on either Tuesday 9 or Wednesday 10 October 2018.

  STAGE 4 - Panel Interview

  Candidates, who are successful in the group assessment stage, will progress to panel interviews with representatives from the Shell operated QGC business and MIGAS. The interviews will take place at the QGC Training Centre in Chinchilla on Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th October 2019.

  STAGE 5 - Medical Assessment

  Shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a medical assessment before final offers are made. This will be organised and paid for by the QGC Pathways program and you will be advised of where to go to complete the assessment. This will take place in mid to late October.

  STAGE 6 - Employment Offers

  Employment offers into the program will be made to the successful candidates by mid to late November. You will first receive a verbal offer of employment, followed by an electronic offer (emailed documents) and relevant new starter information from MIGAS Apprentices and Trainees.

• WHAT HAPPENS AT AN ASSESSMENT CENTRE?

  An assessment centre is a group assessment where you and other applicants in the running for the roles will be assessed  on your practical ability, teamwork, communication skills, ability to problem solve and adapt to different situations. You will be involved in a number of individual, group and practical activities that will be relevant to the position you are applying for.

  Our assessment centres generally start with an introduction and overview of the day followed by an ice breaker to help everyone feel relaxed. Then we move on to the individual and group exercises where you will be assessed by our team throughout the day.

  You can prepare by simply being yourself and ensure you’re interacting and contributing to the activities throughout the day.

• WHEN DO APPLICATIONS CLOSE?

  Applications will close on Friday 6 September 2019 at 5pm

• WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IF I’M SUCCESSFUL?

  If you are successful, you will receive a phone call with a verbal offer of employment. This will be followed up by a copy of your employment contract and all other documents regarding your employment with MIGAS Apprentices and Trainees.

  From here you will have direct communication with your appointed MIGAS Field Officer regarding your MIGAS and Shell QGC inductions and any additional tickets or training required before your first day.

• HOW WILL I BE NOTIFIED IF I’M SHORTLISTED OR UNSUCCESSFUL?

  Candidates will be advised if they have progressed through each stage of the selection process. We encourage you to keep an eye on your phone and emails during the course of the selection process.

  Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by either phone or email to confirm their progression to the next stage of the process.

  Due to the number of applications we receive, we cannot provide individual feedback to unsuccessful candidates. Those who are unsuccessful will be notified by email.

• WHEN DO THE APPRENTICESHIPS AND TRAINEESHIPS COMMENCE?

  All roles will commence in January 2020.

  Successful candidates will be advised in their employment contract of their exact start date.

• WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO BE PAID?

  What you get paid will vary depending on your age, your trade, and any previous qualifications you may have obtained. You can calculate an estimate of your pay based on the relevant award using the government’s pay calculator.
  It is expected that you will occasionally participate in overtime during the course of your apprenticeship or traineeship and this will be paid at a higher rate depending on the type of overtime.
  Each year you progress through your apprenticeship or traineeship, your pay rate will increase slightly to recognise the additional skills you can now offer the role. There’s also a range of entitlements for apprentices and trainees set out by the Fair Work Ombudsman.  The Australian Government provides a range of income support options for apprentices and trainees to support them to complete their training. Learn about additional income support  options here. 

• WHAT WILL MY HOURS OF WORK BE EACH WEEK?

  In your first year, you can expect to work 40 hour weeks across four (4) days per week with 6.30am starts. Keep in mind that this does not include your study commitments which will vary depending on the requirements of your trade qualification you are undertaking. As you progress through your apprenticeship or traineeship your rosters will change and you can expect to work shifts of up to 12 hours duration including weekends and public holidays, as part of a rotating roster.

• WILL I NEED TO TRAVEL OR MOVE CLOSER TO DIFFERENT WORKSITES?

  There are a number of QGC site locations across the Western Downs region where the apprenticeships and traineeships will be based. Travel across these sites will be required depending on your location and your apprenticeship or traineeship. Moving closer is not a requirement of these positions and there is no paid travel or reimbursement entitlements. As part of your employment you will be covered by a Fatigue Management Policy which may entitle you to camp accommodation between shifts. Your location and travel commitments will be discussed with you on a case by case basis as you progress through the selection process.

• DO I RECEIVE A UNIFORM AND PPE?

  As a MIGAS Apprentice or Trainee you will have all of your uniforms and personal protective equipment supplied, as well as being paid to attend TAFE to complete your off-the-job training.

• DO I NEED A CAR OR LICENCE?

  It is a requirement of all the positions that you have reliable transport to and from work. It is preferred that you either currently hold an Open Drivers Licence or are on track to obtain your Open Drivers Licence at the completion of your apprenticeship or traineeship.