National Reconciliation Week is more than just a date on the calendar; it’s a time to listen, learn, reflect, and most importantly, take action. It’s about recognising the past, owning the present, and working together to create a better, fairer future for everyone.
This year, the theme of National Reconciliation Week, “Bridging Now to Next,” invites us to think about how we turn good intentions into real change. It’s a call to connect where we are right now to the future we want to build; one where First Peoples have equal access to opportunities, career pathways, and respect across every part of society.
At CitiPower and Powercor, this idea isn’t just talk. Through their Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and initiatives like the First Peoples Pre-Apprenticeship Program (more on that later), they’re taking big steps to make a meaningful impact, especially by opening doors into energy careers for First Peoples across Victoria. Essentially, they’re creating career pathways, training opportunities, and partnering with First Peoples-owned businesses to build stronger communities and better futures for First Peoples!
What Does “Bridging Now to Next” Really Mean?
Before we dive into the exciting opportunities that CitiPower and Powercor have on offer, let’s break down the theme of this year’s National Reconciliation Week! Essentially, it’s all about momentum; about keeping the journey of reconciliation moving forward in real and tangible ways. “Bridging Now to Next” encourages all of us to connect what we’ve learned from the past with the change we want to see in the future.
That change doesn’t happen on its own. It happens when schools, workplaces, and communities commit to learning, listening, and leading with purpose. It means acknowledging the ongoing impacts of the past while actively creating opportunities that make a difference today and tomorrow.
For organisations like CitiPower and Powercor, it’s about more than statements. It’s about practical action: offering career pathways, training programs, financial support, and development opportunities that empower First Peoples and help create stronger, more inclusive industries.
Introducing The First Peoples Pre-Apprenticeship Program
Now let’s get into the exciting opportunities on offer! CitiPower and Powercor’s First Peoples Pre-Apprenticeship Program demonstrates their commitment to reconciliation efforts by creating entry level pathways for First Peoples into energy careers. This pioneering program offers scholarships of up to $2,000 to support First Peoples undertaking a Certificate II in Electrotechnology, which provides foundational skills and knowledge for energy careers, often serving as a pre-apprenticeship or pathway to further training. By understanding the financial barriers that can block access to education, these scholarships assist with costs such as tools, clothing, rent, childcare, or supplementing income during study.
Gain Hands-On Experience
Beyond financial support and assistance throughout the Cert II, the program includes a practical training week at CitiPower and Powercor depots. This hands-on experience includes trying out some of CitiPower and Powercor’s power tools, site visits to their various assets, and job application assistance, including help with cover letters, CVs, and interview preparation! Students also receive personal protective equipment (PPE) and specialised training.
This year, CitiPower and Powercor’s program has reached multiple regions, including Bunurong (Brooklyn), Wurundjeri (Burnley), Dja Dja Wurrung (Bendigo), Yorta Yorta (Shepparton), Wadawurrung (Ballarat), and Gunditjmara and Eastern Maar (Warrnambool) Countries. By doing this, it didn’t just offer chances to learn; it also helped people feel more connected and made the workplace a safer and more respectful place for different cultures.
How CitiPower and Powercor are Supporting First Peoples into the Trades
Students undertaking the training said they didn’t realise the diverse energy careers available and that following the week they felt more confident than ever.
Tegan Miller, CitiPower and Powercor’s First Peoples Lead, emphasised the program’s significance:
“This is all about supporting First Peoples to enter the electrical trade industry and breaking down barriers to undertaking a Certificate II in Electrotechnology and building a career pathway in the electrical industry”.
Spreading The Word
Along with promoting this initiative at schools, career expos and in TAFEs, CitiPower and Powercor are working and partnering with key First Peoples programs to spread the word about this early career pathway.
This year on National Close the Gap Day, CitiPower and Powercor’s teams got together with First Peoples from Ballarat and Warrnambool Clontarf Academies at their Brooklyn Depot. The goal was to connect with them and spark interest in their First Peoples Pre-apprenticeship Program. The students heard from First Peoples within the business, saw cable joining in action and got to try and put on bolts with large safety gloves and sleeves, which created a lot of laughter! The team did a fantastic job showcasing the many energy careers on offer and the elevated work platform ride which took participants several metres into the air was definitely a highlight for many!
Alignment to Reconciliation:
In alignment with National Reconciliation Week‘s theme, this initiative serves as a connection for learnings of the past with the aspirations of First Peoples in the future. By investing in First Peoples’ education and career development, CitiPower and Powercor is contributing to a more inclusive and fair energy industry, reflecting the broader goals of reconciliation.
As we observe National Reconciliation Week, programs like CitiPower and Powercor’s Pre-Apprenticeship Program remind us that reconciliation is not just about reflection but also about action – taking deliberate steps to create opportunities, foster understanding, and building a shared future.
Next Steps
National Reconciliation Week is a chance to pause and reflect, but more importantly, it’s a time to get moving. To stand up, speak out, and take steps that help create a more just and equal future for First Peoples.
CitiPower and Powercor’s First Peoples Pre-Apprenticeship Program is a brilliant example of what it means to bridge “now” to “next.” By breaking down barriers and building pathways into electrical trades, they’re not just talking about change; they’re powering it.
Ready to learn more or know someone who might be interested? Explore CitiPower and Powercor’s First Peoples careers initiatives today and be part of the change.
