Traineeships and scholarships

Every year we offer several paid traineeships for people keen to combine on-the-job training with formal learning. This means you get valuable work experience while studying towards a qualification.

It’s a great opportunity to save some money, learn from others working in a corporate environment and gain confidence.

Applicants need to:

• Have completed Year 11 or 12
• Have a current Victorian Driver’s Licence or commit to getting one by the start of their traineeship.
• Be well organised.
• Be able to work as part of a team.
• Be able to meet deadlines.
• Have good communication skills.
• Be confident working with computers.
• Be able to work accurately and neatly.
• Be reliable.
• Undergo a Police Check.

Traineeships run for a 12-month period. Participants will work at Wannon Water while they complete a certificate at South West TAFE.

They’ll work 40 hours each week with one rostered day off each month. Days of work are Monday to Friday from 8:15am to 5pm, with a 45-minute break for lunch.

Applications for our traineeship intakes open in late in then year. Keep an eye on our social media for application dates or contact us to register your interest.

Our Engineering Scholarship supports local students through their studies. It also kick-starts their career with hands-on experience.

We offer the scholarship every two years. It consists of:

• $5,000 each year towards the cost of university fees and study expenses.
• Employment as an engineering student during your study breaks.
• At least two years of guaranteed post-graduate employment.

To be eligible, you’ll need to:

• Live in our region (or your parents or guardians will need to live here).
• Enrol, or have enrolled, as a full-time student in a Civil Engineering course at a Victorian university.
• Achieve an ATAR score that meets university requirements for a degree in Civil Engineering.
• Have an interest in a career in the water industry.

Applications for our next scholarship will open in late 2025. Keep your eye on our social media for application dates or contact us to register your interest

Applicants will be short-listed and then interviewed by our selection panel.

We’ll consider criteria such as:

• Academic achievement
• Interest in working in the water industry
• Education results
• Community involvement.

We’ll offer paid work experience to the successful applicant over the summer period and mid-year university breaks.

We’ll also provide a full-time engineering position after they graduate.

Their main role will be with our Assets and Service Delivery Department in our Warrnambool office. There may also be opportunities to work at other locations across our region.

As part of the scholarship, students need to:

• Have a desire to join the water industry after graduation.
• Continue to have satisfactory grades in all subjects.
• Stay enrolled in the same course after being awarded the scholarship.
• Continue to study on a full-time basis.
• Submit a copy of their  results at the end of each semester, including verification that they have met the requirements to obtain a degree in Civil Engineering.
• Undertake paid work experience at Wannon Water during university breaks if desired.
• Agree to two years’ post-graduate employment with Wannon Water. This will include one rotation with the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority.
• Agree to the terms and conditions set out in the Wannon Water Scholarship Agreement (issued to the successful candidate).