Matt had no idea cable jointing was a career until someone told him it existed.
He was partway through a Certificate II in Electrotechnology at trade school when Powercor came in to give a presentation. What they described wasn’t the standard electrician path he’d been picturing. It was something different: working underground, joining high-voltage cables, keeping the power flowing to homes and businesses across Victoria. He was interested straight away.
Now he’s a first-year apprentice cable jointer at Powercor’s Brooklyn Depot, and the job has already surprised him more than once.
So what does a cable jointer do?
It’s one of those roles most people have never heard of, but couldn’t live without.
Cable jointers work on the underground side of the electricity distribution network. Where lineworkers deal with the poles and overhead wires you can see from the street, cable jointers work beneath the surface, joining underground cables and making terminations to transformers and other electrical equipment that keeps power moving through the network.
“In the power industry, we work on the distribution side of electricity,” Matt explains. “As cable jointers, we work on underground cables, joining them and making various terminations to transformers and other electrical apparatus.”
No two days involve the same job or the same location, which suits Matt just fine.
What a day on the tools looks like
Mornings start at the depot. The team gathers, jobs get assigned, and then everyone heads out to site together. Before any work begins, the crew runs through a JSA (Job Safety Analysis) to make sure the site is safe and the work can be carried out properly.
From there, the tasks can range anywhere from routine maintenance to new construction work. The variety is one of the things Matt enjoys most about the role.
“Working in a different location every day is great. It’s really good to be able to learn new areas, be outdoors, and enjoy the environment.”
For anyone who’s drawn to hands-on work but not the idea of being stuck in the same place every day, it’s a setup that works well.
The thing that caught him off guard
Matt came in thinking that any work on a section of the network would mean cutting power to everyone beyond that point. The reality turned out to be far more sophisticated.
“The biggest eye-opener for me was realising how the network can keep customers in supply even when work is taking place,” he says. “Power can still reach houses even if we have to turn off a section of the network. There are ways to back-feed those houses from different electrical pillars that we use to close and open certain areas.”
The engineering behind it surprised him. The network is designed with enough redundancy and flexibility that most customers stay connected while the crew works safely, something he had no idea was possible before he started.
The team makes the difference
Ask Matt what he enjoys most and he doesn’t hesitate: the people.
“Everyone is really friendly and willing to teach you the right way to do things. They show you things even if they aren’t related to that specific job, and explain different ways that things can or need to get done.”
That kind of culture matters more than most people realise when you’re starting out. Being a first-year apprentice means spending a lot of time not knowing things, and having a team that treats questions as part of the job rather than an inconvenience makes a significant difference to how quickly you learn.
What Powercor’s apprenticeship program offers
Matt’s path isn’t unusual for Powercor. Since 2001, CitiPower and Powercor have employed more than 450 apprentices, and the program has a strong track record. Over 98% of apprentices recruited complete their four-year program and continue in careers with the company.
The four-year apprenticeship gives you the chance to gain a nationally recognised electrical trade qualification, with all TAFE course and tuition fees covered, paid leave to attend TAFE, and all tools and equipment supplied. Apprentices also work a nine-day fortnight, a rostering arrangement that gives you a regular day off without cutting into your pay.
Roles are available across Melbourne and regional Victoria, with depots in locations including Bendigo, Ballarat, Mildura, Kyneton, Echuca, Shepparton, Maryborough, Warrnambool, Colac, Horsham, Geelong, Brooklyn, Burnley, and Melbourne’s CBD.
The program is also one of the most competitive in the state, attracting more than 2,600 applications last year alone, with applicant numbers continuing to grow and break records year after year. These are the only apprenticeships directly offered by a Victorian network business. About two thirds of Powercor’s 700-strong in-house field workforce originally started with the business as apprentices.
For those interested in getting a head start, CitiPower and Powercor also offer a Women’s Pre-Apprenticeship Scholarship, supporting women, transgender women, and non-binary people undertaking a Certificate II in Electrotechnology, with scholarships valued at up to $2,000 to help cover tools, clothing, rent, childcare, or to supplement income.
His advice if you’re thinking about applying
Matt keeps it simple.
“Take any opportunity you can get. If there’s an opportunity to apply, just apply and give it a go. Keep up to date with everything that is going on application-wise and always stay focused on what needs to be done.”
And then, simply:
“You’ve got to be in it to win it.”
Is this the kind of career for you?
If you like working outdoors, being part of a tight team, and doing work that matters to people’s daily lives, the electrical trades are worth a serious look. The pay is strong, the job security is real, and the pathway from apprentice to qualified tradesperson is clear and well-supported.
The entry requirements are more accessible than most people assume. You’ll need to have completed, or be completing, Year 11 with a pass in General Maths, or have completed a Certificate II in Electrotechnology, the same course that put Matt onto this path in the first place.
Explore apprenticeships at CitiPower and Powercor here.
