Our Program
Map your future career today with SunWater's Graduate Program.
Induction
The induction program is the beginning of your journey as a Graduate Engineer with SunWater. This program is an orientation to SunWater and gives you the opportunity to:
- Meet and get to know your peers
- Be introduced to key people at SunWater
- Find out more about the graduate program and what lies ahead
- Learn more about SunWater and our future direction
- Gain an understanding of your rights and responsibilities at SunWater, and
- Discuss your expectations as a participant of the graduate program.
The induction includes a field trip where you will visit and inspect some of SunWater’s water supply infrastructure, and meet our experienced regional staff. This is a fun and informative way to experience what SunWater does, while getting to know your fellow graduates.
Job Rotations
An integral part of our graduate program is the annual rotation of graduate engineers across SunWater’s business groups and centres. Our rotation program ensures that at the completion of your graduate program, you will have participated in diverse engineering practices which will enable you to make a sound decision about where you would like to focus your future career development. While each rotation will be different, each of your three rotations collectively focuses on your skill development and provides you with:
- Experience in a range of engineering applications and practices
- Exposure to our diverse infrastructure and water supply schemes, and
- The opportunity to work with a variety of senior engineers.
The program incorporates the following four streams. During your three-year program, we will aim to give you experience in as many of these streams as relevant to your career goals, including:
- Asset Management
- Water Management
- Business, Project and Scheme Operations, and
- Design
SunWater believes that graduates need to work in different locations to obtain the relevant learnings needed to complete the graduate program. Therefore you may have the opportunity to rotate to a different location/area each year for the three-year program. Some of the Queensland towns and cities that you may rotate to are:
- Ayr
- Biloela
- Brisbane
- Bundaberg, or
- Mackay
Every year the rotation schedule is set through the evaluation of SunWater’s business and operational requirements, your rotation preferences and your developmental needs and career goals.
Mentor & Buddy Systems
Mentor System
Being mentored is a powerful way of learning. SunWater mentoring provides you with an opportunity to learn from an experienced person who can assist you to set your career goals and develop the skills to reach them. Your mentor will also provide you with encouragement and coaching on how to handle difficult issues/problems, be a sounding board, increase your awareness of how things work at SunWater, and support your career planning.
Buddy System
Starting in a new organisation can be a daunting experience, especially if it is your first full-time professional role. SunWater has developed a system which ensures that you will have a ‘buddy’ who will make contact with you within your first three weeks of employment. Your buddy will be able to offer informal advice and will maintain regular contact with you.
Peer Network
A peer network has been established to give you the opportunity to discuss experiences with other graduates and exchange ideas. These monthly meetings also give you the chance to invite guest speakers to talk about topics of interest to the group.
Graduate Development
During the graduate program, you will participate in workshops that have been designed to develop your professional skills in areas such as presentation, communication and project management.
You will also have the opportunity to participate in and lead action learning projects. As part of a project team, you will engage in on-the-job learning that enables you to:
- Apply your academic knowledge in a practical context
- Develop your leadership capabilities and technical expertise
- Make effective decisions and manage information
- Gain hands-on experience in real workplace situations
- Develop and display your communication and presentation skills
- Build your business knowledge, and
- Add value across SunWater’s business groups.
Technical Experts
While the role of a mentor is to provide career support and guidance, technical experts are available to enhance your technical skills and abilities. SunWater has an extensive network of leaders in the water industry who will work with you to further your technical capabilities.
Learning Journal
This journal offers you the opportunity to record your thoughts, feelings and reflections in relation to the graduate program (and within the SunWater Written Communication Guidelines). It will allow you to reflect back over your actions and interactions, why they were taken and the consequences of these actions. This will encourage you to increase your understanding and open the door to new learning opportunities.
Professional Networks
SunWater has relationships with a number of professional associations (e.g. Engineers Australia and the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia (APESMA)). We will provide you with information about upcoming events and can foster your introduction to these organisations.