QGC’s New Apprentice Recruits Hit the Ground Running

The first intake of QGC’s apprentices and trainees in the Pathways Program has hit the ground running since taking up their new roles across the upstream business in January. 

The 13 new recruits who live in Western Downs townships of Chinchilla, Miles, Dalby, Glenmorgan, Bell and Tara have spent the past three months undertaking inductions and safety training, breaking in new PPE and becoming familiar with their new teams and roles.

The QGC Pathways Program was launched in June last year with the support of apprentice specialists MIGAS who will ensure the new recruits receive the appropriate training, experience, and mentoring throughout their apprenticeship. They will obtain a nationally recognised qualification in their trade speciality to pursue a rewarding career in the natural gas sector.

Welcoming the new trainees and apprentices to the business, QGC VP Tony Nunan said the program attracted a high-quality field of candidates including a great cross-section of men, women and people representing Traditional Owner Groups.

“One of the most important considerations for us in recruitment was to ensure that we attracted people from the local region who would then be able to build their career with us or in the industry more generally," Mr Nunan said.

“We are really proud of what we have achieved at QGC and the ongoing opportunities to work with our communities, and this program is one of the ways that we are delivering on our commitment to increase the number of our employees who live in the Western Downs Region.

“This program, along with a similar training program for process plant operators in Gladstone, is delivering world-class training opportunities and providing local people the opportunity to become part of an important industry that provides natural gas for both domestic and export customers and sustains jobs in regional areas of Queensland," Mr Nunan said.

Managing Director of MIGAS Rod Margetts said the ability of a young person to succeed in their apprenticeship really depends on having the right support behind them, not only the new apprentice but the business also.

“At MIGAS we’ve been working with apprentices and employers for more than 30 years and we invest in developing apprenticeship talent through programs to grow problem solving skills, productive behaviours and effective career skills that build confidence and set them on a path of success,” Mr Margetts said.

“The QGC Pathways programs provides these apprentices and trainees with more than just their qualification. They’ll have the opportunity to train and gain experience in a world class organisation with first class facilities, they’ll have access to our exclusive Scholarship Program to fund further skills they need, they’ll also be provided with individual mentoring and further training to become some of the very best and highly specialised tradespeople in the region."

Tony Nunan said that he would be keeping in touch with the recruits as they complete apprenticeships in mechanical fitting and electrical and instrumentation and traineeships in warehousing and process plant operations.

“I am particularly looking forward to hearing their stories of personal success, watching them develop their skills and seeing them graduate in at the end of their training with us,“ Mr Nunan said.

The next apprenticeship recruitment drive is set to take place in mid-year. Candidates should connect with MIGAS Apprentices and Trainees on our website now to ensure they don’t miss being told first about the next intake.