Victoria University and City West Water

A best practice Technical Officer Development Program developed by City West Water and Victoria University may be adopted by other Victorian water authorities as this industry seeks new strategies to deal with skill shortages, succession planning and career development pathways.

The accelerated cadetship will employ 60 people over the next five years, according to Anthony Allen, City West Water's Manager People Strategy and Development. A new training coordinator is managing the program, which had its first intake of 13 cadets in February 2009.

Mr Allen says City West Water's strategic workplace planning identified technical officers as a critical workforce segment which lacked structured succession planning and development pathways that would attract new employees. Technical officers are the third largest of the organisation's job families, and comprise 25 per cent of business-critical roles.

In the first two years of the program, cadet employees complete Certificate III in Business customised for the water industry, the Diploma of Engineering Technology and trade subjects at Victoria University, undertake a range of in-house training and rotate through at least two core business areas. The final three years involve further job rotation and intensive work experience.

"Section managers from technical and engineering areas are in-house mentors, and are undertaking Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment and Training at Victoria University," Mr Allen said.

The training program has major implications for upskilling Victoria's water industry, as Mr Allen reported "a lot of interest" in the program from urban, regional and rural water bodies.

For Clint Grierson, City West Water cadet "Applying for and then accepting this position is one of the best things I've done … It allows me to study and work, while setting me up with a secure, interesting and well paid career. I'm really enjoying it."

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