News

SNOWY HYDRO JOINS FORCES WITH ATSE TO BOOST STEM GENDER DIVERSITY

21/08/2024

Women and non-binary people pursuing dreams of a STEM career will have an opportunity for game-changing support, thanks to a partnership between Snowy Hydro and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE).

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the iconic Snowy Scheme, Snowy Hydro will offer financial scholarships with wrap-around assistance to two undergraduates. The two STEM scholars will be able to study STEM disciplines at the university of their choice, as well as the opportunity for mentoring and professional development designed to help them find a job and thrive.

Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes said the scholarships were about providing additional support to people who might otherwise experience barriers to a career in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

“The Snowy Scheme is synonymous with scientific and engineering excellence and that’s continuing with the development of the Snowy 2.0 mega project,” Mr Barnes said.

“Providing this support to kick-start two STEM careers is a meaningful way to mark 75 years of the Snowy Scheme and make an important contribution to the skills that will help make the next 75 years possible.

“There’s also an important diversity consideration here. The energy sector is typically male dominated and there’s so much that can be gained by women and gender-diverse people choosing STEM disciplines.

“I’d love to see the people who are awarded the Snowy Hydro 75th Anniversary scholarships contributing to Australia’s transition to renewable energy.”

The scholarships will be offered through ATSE’s Elevate program. Snowy Hydro will fund two scholars for three years, with each scholar receiving $30,000 over the period. This scholarships will not only support the scholars financially but also grant them access to the vast ATSE network, including mentoring, professional development workshops, and 24-hour psychosocial wellbeing support.

Mr Barnes said one of the reasons Snowy Hydro is partnering with ATSE is because a significant number of Elevate program scholarship recipients are from regional areas.

“When you live in a regional area, there are far more barriers to studying, particularly, STEM, which often require technology and resources that are only available in cities. Relocating to study creates an additional financial burden,” Mr Barnes said.

“Knowing the ATSE and the Elevate program have a substantial regional footprint, and that our scholarships might help break down those barriers, is important to us.”

“Boosting gender diversity in STEM is not just a matter of equity but a critical driver for innovation and sustainability.” said ATSE CEO, Kylie Walker.

“Women bring diverse perspectives and approaches to problem-solving, which are essential in tackling the complex challenges of transitioning to renewable energy and achieving net-zero targets.

“Partnerships with industry leaders like Snowy Hydro are vital to this mission, as they provide the career opportunities and real-world expertise needed to empower women and gender-diverse people in STEM and drive meaningful progress in these fields.”

Snowy Hydro and ATSE are committed to creating a lasting impact by supporting the next generation of STEM professionals, particularly those from underrepresented groups. This partnership highlights how industry collaboration can drive meaningful change and contribute to a diverse and inclusive STEM industry.

Applications for the Elevate program have been open since May and will close 30 August. Assessment will take place in September and October. The announcement of the selected scholars will occur in November, with scholarships commencing in January 2025.

For more information about the Elevate program, visit https://www.atse.org.au/elevate.

About ATSE

ATSE is an independent, non-government organisation and charity, ATSE is led by a diverse Fellowship of over 900 of Australia’s leading applied scientists, technologists and engineers.

Their Elevate program provides scholarships, networking opportunities, mentoring, and wellbeing support to scholars during their university studies. The Elevate program will award up to 500 undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships to women and non-binary people in STEM.

The Elevate scholarships program provides:

• Financial support
• Access to events and networking
• Professional development
• Mentoring
• Wellbeing support during scholars’ university studies

About Snowy Hydro

Snowy Hydro is a dynamic integrated energy company at the forefront of the renewable energy transition and decarbonisation of the NEM. In addition to its commitment to clean energy, Snowy Hydro is also a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, particularly in supporting opportunities for women in STEM. Through its Snowy STEM Academy, development and mentorship programs, Rise Women and a focus on creating an inclusive workplace culture, Snowy Hydro is dedicated to fostering the next generation of female leaders who will shape the future of renewable energy and contribute to the ongoing transformation of the NEM.

News

HUNTER POWER PROJECT DELIVERS LOCAL JOBS AND SKILLS

12/08/2024

Snowy Hydro’s Hunter Power Project (HPP) is leaving a lasting impact on the local workforce, delivering approximately 600 direct construction jobs and crucial skills development for a number of high-demand construction trades.

More than 60% of HPP workers live locally, which is part of Snowy Hydro’s commitment to supporting communities that the company is a part of.

The number of apprentices at HPP is on the increase, with Snowy Hydro working alongside principal contractor UGL to provide an additional 12 apprenticeship positions in June 2024, which includes three females and two First Nations apprentices. New apprentices on site include a boilermaker, nine electricians, and two mechanical fitters.

Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes said HPP will be good for jobs long after construction is complete.

“We are proud of our contribution to the construction, engineering, and infrastructure sector here in the Hunter, especially given the current tradespeople shortages in Australia.

“This project will have a lasting impact on the size and proficiency of the local workforce”

Mr Barnes said.

”A job on HPP will help set our team up for a rewarding career and a bright future.”

Electrical apprentice Daniel Battle said he became interested in the electrical trade after working as a Trades Assistant on the project.

“This apprenticeship is giving me the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience while working to a high standard within the industry to become an electrician,” Mr Battle said.

Apprentice boilermaker Jackson Scott said he was passionate about fabrication and welding. “I was very lucky to be offered an apprenticeship shortly after starting at HPP.

“HPP is preparing me to have a successful career contributing to important infrastructure in our country, and I’m extremely grateful,” Mr Scott said.

Electrical apprentice Camilla Lindeberg said she worked as a cleaner for seven months before applying for an apprenticeship.

“I never thought of being an electrical apprentice until the opportunity presented itself, and I’m excited for what the future holds.

“The challenge of learning something new and directly contributing to building HPP gives me a great sense of achievement and sets me up for a whole new career with endless opportunities,” Ms Lindeberg said.

Snowy Hydro is also looking to the future workforce through its community support programme.

In 2024, Snowy Hydro extended its Local School STEM Fund to the Cessnock LGA where HPP is located. More than $26,000 was awarded to schools in the area to foster learning opportunities and career pathways for local young people with a focus on STEM.

From left to right: Daniel Battle, Camilla Lindeberg, and Jackson Scott.

News

SNOWY HYDRO SHOWCASES STEM CAREERS FOR LOCAL STUDENTS IN TALBINGO

09/04/2024

More than 60 local year 10 students have participated in a Snowy Hydro careers day at Talbingo and gained insights into exciting career opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Students and teachers from Tumut High School and McAuley College took part in the Snowy STEM Academy initiative, working with engineers, climate scientists, and tradespeople to explore careers in the renewable energy sector.

The group went behind the scenes for an in-depth look at Australia’s largest pumped-hydro facility, Tumut 3 Power Station, and enjoyed a career panel with a question and answer discussion and hands-on activities.

Students also attended elective presentations based on their STEM interests and chose from drone technology, environmental science, trade skills, and engineering options. They even had the opportunity to operate a mini power station.

This STEM-focused initiative reinforced Snowy Hydro’s commitment to supporting regional education and developing the future workforce.

It showcased the diverse range of careers available in STEM fields, providing real-life tangible outcomes that will help students make informed decisions about their future education and career paths.

“We were excited to open our doors to local students and give them a glimpse into the world of renewable energy and STEM careers,” said Snowy Hydro Area Manager Peter Symons.

“Snowy Hydro is committed to supporting education and fostering the next generation of STEM professionals and tradespeople.”

Inviting students to experience a working power station aligns with the broader initiatives of the Snowy STEM Academy, which aims to bridge the gap between education and industry, preparing students for future opportunities in the renewable energy sector.Snowy Hydro encourages interested teachers and parents to find out more about the Snowy STEM Academy, by visiting www.snowyhydro.com.au/snowystemacademy.

News

SNOWY HYDRO SPONSORS TRADE DAY FOR YOUNG WOMEN

14/08/2023

Energised by electricity? Handy with a hammer? Nimble with numbers? Women keen to pick up the tools can find out more about an exciting new career at a trade day in Corryong sponsored by the Snowy Hydro Community Grants Program.

Hosted by Empowered Women in Trades (EWIT), the Tool Skills Day on Thursday 7 September aims to inspire local high school and TAFE students and other young women in Corryong to learn a skilled trade in the disciplines of civil, electrical and mechanical.

EWIT was one of 20 successful applicants receiving a total of $143,000 in funding from round one of the 2023 Snowy Hydro Community Grants. The highly successful program offers grants of up to $10,000 to support projects, festivals, events and initiatives which benefit the local communities of the Snowy Mountains and surrounds.

The EWIT proposal for a Tool Skills Day aimed at young women strongly aligns with Snowy Hydro’s community commitment pillar of education and development.

Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes said fostering education opportunities and career pathways for local young people was a key focus for the company.

“We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and we are keen to encourage young women into non-traditional roles like trades,” Dennis said. “At Snowy, we have a range of entry-level programs that provide a fantastic opportunity to get local young people straight from the classroom into an energising and practical career.

“We are very pleased to be supporting the EWIT Tools Skills Day at Corryong – where many of our Murray region staff live – through the Snowy Hydro Community Grants Program.”

The Tool Skills Day will be held in Corryong from 9.30am – 2.30pm on 7 September 2023. There will be hands-on EWIT workshops, an exploration of trades-based career pathways, the opportunity to chat one-on-one with ‘tradie ladies’ and more.

Young local women interested in attending this fun, interactive event can register on the EWIT website. Places are limited, so get in quickly.

Local organisations can apply for funding from round two of the 2023 Snowy Hydro Community Grants Program. Applications open this month and must be submitted online via the Snowy Hydro website by 8 September.

All applications will be assessed against the program’s grants criteria – there is more information available on the website.

Your proposed project or event must respond to a community need, provide tangible benefits to the community, strengthen the community by providing opportunities that align with Snowy Hydro’s community commitment pillars, demonstrate strong governance, foster strong and sustainable partnerships within the community and return value for investment.

**EWIT is an organisation that champions tradeswomen, diversity and gender equality. Its mission is to transform the trades industry by empowering women and fostering a culture of inclusivity. EWIT works with education institutions and industry leaders to increase women’s participation in trades, provide opportunities for them to learn trade skills and assist them to thrive in the workforce.

News

SNOWY HYDRO GROUP SUPERANNUATION REVIEW

29/06/2023

Following a voluntary review of contributions paid to employees’ superannuation funds, the Snowy Hydro Group* has identified some instances of underpayment of superannuation contributions to accumulation funds. Upon finalisation of the review, the Group has undertaken immediate steps to rectify the errors including making all necessary payments to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) .

The Group apologises unreservedly to the 3,800 former and current employees impacted by this mistake resulting in a net underpayment of $1.1 million.

As part of the rectification, in addition to the $1.1 million, the Group has also paid the legislated 10%pa interest to the ATO, who will remit all amounts (including the 10%pa interest) to former and current impacted employees’ superannuation funds.

The review was carried out by consultancy firm Ernst & Young, and extended as far back as the Group’s available digital payroll records, from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2021.

The outcome of the review showed that:

For approximately 80% of the 3,800 impacted employees, the net underpayment totalled less than $200 per individual employee over the 15-year review period; and
Total superannuation contribution obligations over this period were $173.7M, compared with $172.6M of superannuation contributions actually paid. This equates to the Group having paid 99.3% of its superannuation contribution obligations over the review period.

Changes implemented following the review for the 2022 financial year onwards have ensured that correct superannuation contributions are paid.

*Snowy Hydro Group (”the Group”) includes Snowy Hydro Limited, Red Energy Pty Limited, Lumo Energy Australia Pty Ltd and Direct Connect Australia Pty Ltd.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are former or current employees required to do anything to receive the superannuation payment?

No action is required. The Group (Snowy Hydro, Red Energy, Lumo Energy & Direct Connect Australia) has made payment and lodged all required paperwork to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to facilitate the payment (including interest) into superannuation funds.

When will payments go into superannuation funds?

While the ATO’s processing times will vary, it may take up to six (6) months for the ATO to transfer the funds electronically by matching Tax File Numbers directly to superannuation funds. If an active superannuation account is not found by the ATO, payment will be placed in the ATO’s holding account. More details are available here: https://www.ato.gov.au/forms/searching-for-lost-super.

Superannuation amounts paid into superannuation funds can be found via your MyGov account.

Why can’t the Group process the payment directly into superannuation funds?

In cases where an employer is required to pay superannuation contributions relating to prior years, the amount cannot be paid directly to superannuation funds, but is required by law to be paid to the ATO, which will then remit the amount to superannuation funds.

Will any interest on the superannuation amount be received?

The amount owing to superannuation funds is inclusive of the ATO’s set interest calculation at 10% per annum that will be credited to superannuation funds.

Is there confidence that the amounts owing have been calculated correctly?

This review was carried out by consultancy firm Ernst & Young, which undertook an independent review of our superannuation contributions paid across the 15-year review period of 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2021.

The review was undertaken by subject matter experts within the Ernst & Young Employment Taxes team who have experience in conducting similar superannuation reviews for other large corporate groups.

The end of the review period was 30 June 2021. Why did it take so long to complete?

Ernst & Young confirmed that our 15-year review period is one of the most comprehensive historical analysis, in terms of years, undertaken by any of their clients. Tax record keeping requirements placed on companies in Australia require records be kept for only five (5) years and this is the typical voluntary review period undertaken by employers where an underpayment of superannuation guarantee is identified.

The scope and complexity in reviewing superannuation contributions paid over a 15-year period required an exceptionally high level of analysis and multiple checks to ensure accuracy and completeness.

The 15-year period required millions of rows of data to be analysed. The sheer volume of data and the intricacy of retrospective calculations made it necessary for the Group to devote considerable time and resources to ensure accuracy of the review.

News

SNOWY’S KURT WASSINK WINS REGIONAL APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

26/06/2023

Snowy Hydro’s Kurt Wassink has been named the Riverina region’s 2023 Apprentice of the Year in the NSW Department of Training awards.

Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes congratulated Cooma local Kurt, who completed his Certificate III in Electrotechnology at TAFE NSW, on winning the prestigious award.

“This is a wonderful achievement that underlines the quality of both our local employees and our long-standing apprentice program,” Dennis said.

“At Snowy we are committed to developing science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) expertise among our people, and nurturing the talent we have in the Snowy Mountains region.

“We are future focused and are proud to see our apprentice program is building STEM skills not only for our business, but for the energy industry and regional Australia.”

Snowy Hydro employs up to 25 apprentices annually. In 2023 we have 25 apprentices, six of whom are females and three are Clontarf Foundation graduates. Around 10% of our full time employees are in graduate, apprenticeship and trainee programs at any one time.

Kurt, who is now a qualified Snowy Hydro Maintenance Technician – Electrician working in Khancoban at our Murray 1 and 2 hydro power stations, will progress to the next stage of the NSW Training Awards which are held in Sydney later in the year.

These awards honour and recognise outstanding achievement in the NSW vocational education and training sector.

News

SNOWY HYDRO YEAR 9 CAREERS OPEN DAY

27/03/2023

At Snowy Hydro we understand the importance of developing students for the careers of the future, so we are excited to be hosting our inaugural Year 9 Careers Open Day on Thursday 30 March 2023.

The initiative, which is aimed at schools in the Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys and Towong local government areas, continues our strong focus on educational programs that spark an interest in science, technology engineering and maths (STEM) for local young people.

Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes said the Year 9 Careers Open Day would allow students to go behind the scenes at the Snowy head office in Cooma to explore the diversity of STEM careers.

“More than 100 students will hear from some of our engineers, climate scientists and technology experts and enjoy interesting, hands-on activities,” Dennis said.

“They’ll learn about Snowy Hydro’s operations and the amazing Snowy Scheme, participate in quality learning experiences, discuss STEM-related career pathways and learn how different engineering roles use maths on a daily basis.

“By showcasing what we do here at Snowy and what opportunities there are for local kids with an interest in STEM, we hope to inspire a future generation of engineers, scientists and technical specialists.

“The Year 9 Careers Open Day will also help students with their subject selections for year 10 and beyond.”

Students will begin their day at Snowy Hydro with a welcome from senior leaders. They’ll experience the fantastic Discovery Centre immersive theatre with a Snowy Scheme virtual flyover, visit the generation operations control room and learn about work experience, traineeships and apprenticeships and tertiary pathways at Snowy.

And that’s just the start!

Snowy Hydro is proud to be launching the Year 9 Careers Open Day in 2023 and establishing it as a fixture on the local schools’ calendar for years to come.

News

SNOWY HYDRO SUPPORT FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND SCHOOLS

27/02/2023

Grants of up to $10,000 are now available for Snowy Mountains schools and community groups as part of Snowy Hydro’s ongoing commitment to the local region.

In addition to the biannual Community Grants Program, Snowy Hydro has launched an exciting initiative in 2023 – the Local School STEM Fund – to inspire and increase access to STEM-based learning opportunities for the next generation of local innovators.

Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes said Snowy was dedicated to fostering education opportunities and career pathways for local young people with a focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

“The Local School STEM Fund is a great way to support students in our area by giving them access to more learning and experience-based opportunities. Hopefully this will inspire kids to study further and seek a career in STEM fields, which is good news for Snowy Hydro as a major local employer,” Mr Barnes said.

“The launch of this fund is the latest addition to our ongoing commitment to STEM in the community – we have been been engaging with local schools, parents and children for more than six years with initiatives such as the Science of the Snowy competition, Next Generation Education Hub and, Tunnel Boring Naming Competition, to name a few.”

Applications for the new Local School STEM Fund are open until Friday 3 March. Local schools can apply for funding of up to $10,000 to support science, technology engineering and maths (STEM)-related excursions, student sponsorships, equipment and camps.

Round one of Snowy Hydro’s 2023 Community Grants Program is also open now and accepting applications for funding of up to $10,000 from eligible local organisations and community groups for projects, activities and events.

The application period closes on Wednesday 15 March and all grant applications are assessed against a standard set of criteria. There is a second round of grants available under the program starting in September this year.

Applications for both the Local School STEM Fund (by 3 March) and Community Grants Program (by 15 March) must be completed online via the Snowy Hydro website.

For more information about Snowy Hydro’s Local School STEM Fund and to apply, visit: https://www.snowyhydro.com.au/localstemfund/
For more information about Snowy Hydro’s Community Grants Program and to apply, visit: https://www.snowyhydro.com.au/communitygrantsprogram/

News

NEW TRAINEE SURVEYORS JOIN SNOWY 2.0 TEAM

10/11/2021

Snowy 2.0 is generating exciting employment and upskilling opportunities for the local community, with six men and women from the local region recently joining Snowy Hydro’s nation-building renewable energy project as surveying trainees.

The $5.1 billion Snowy 2.0 project is delivering thousands of jobs and significant economic benefit to the local region, with around 1,300 people now working onsite.

The trainee group, employed by Snowy 2.0 principal contractor Future Generation Joint Venture, has started formal training in Surveying and Spatial Sciences at TAFE NSW.

The new recruits – Emily Smith (Adaminaby), Trent Thatcher (Tumut), Ian Kilowsky (Jindabyne), Samuel Hayes (Adelong) and Stuart Donlan and Dominic Mooney (Cooma) – are already working across a range of Snowy 2.0 sites.

Future Generation Survey Manager, David Ibbotson, has welcomed the new trainees and is happy to see people entering the surveying industry and training for the future.

“All six of our trainees will learn from our experienced survey team, and I look forward to watching our trainees grow and prove their skills working across our project sites” Mr Ibbotson said.

“I hope they will soon have the skills to guide tunnelling excavations underground and continue their education to complete formal qualifications in surveying and spatial sciences,” he said.

Snowy Hydro Relations Manager Dean Lynch said the Snowy 2.0 training and education opportunities were an important workforce legacy.

“We have always wanted the local community to benefit from this project not only through the business investment and economic boost, but through jobs and training,” Mr Lynch said. “This intake of surveying trainees gives another group of local people the chance to learn valuable skills and establish a career through Snowy 2.0.”

Mr Ibbotson said Future Generation plans to expand the survey traineeships and has encouraged other local people to apply for future positions that could lead to career pathways as survey technicians and assistants.

“I am very encouraged so far by the aptitude and tenacity displayed by the first group of trainees and look forward to watching them exceed and develop in a profession I have personally found constantly challenging and endlessly rewarding,” he said.

Future Generation Training Manager, Aaron Reid, acknowledged Mr Ibbotson’s commitment in attracting the new Snowy 2.0 recruits.

“It is extremely satisfying seeing how our employees are taking care of their own work and are happy to share their knowledge. This represents the spirit of Future Generation JV,” Mr Reid said.

“We are pleased to promote training and apprenticeship programs on Snowy 2.0 and we welcome more enthusiastic and passionate young professionals interested to join the project team. Future Generation is committed to providing skills and opportunities that can be transitioned from the Snowy 2.0 project to the local region and to build individual skills and capabilities,” he said.

Snowy 2.0 is a nation-building project that will underpin thousands of megawatts of renewables and will continue to keep the lights on for generations to come.

Future Generation is a joint venture created specifically to build Snowy 2.0 on behalf of Snowy Hydro Limited. The joint venture brings the combined engineering expertise of three companies — Italy’s Webuild (formerly Salini Impregilo), Australian-based Clough, and US-based Lane Construction.

News

SNOWY HYDRO 2022 APPRENTICES AND TRAINEES INTAKE OPENS

04/05/2021

Thinking about applying for an apprenticeship or traineeship at Snowy Hydro? Come along to a community drop-in session at the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre in Cooma on Saturday 8 May for more information!

Year 12 students considering a traineeship, their families and prospective apprentices of all ages can ask questions to find out more about the Snowy Hydro 2022 Trainee and Apprentice program in one convenient spot.

The session, which runs from 9am to 11am, complements the school presentations conducted throughout the Snowy Mountains region and provides additional opportunities for the community to learn more about Snowy Hydro’s annual apprentice and trainee intake.

Applications for a 2022 Snowy Hydro traineeship or apprenticeship are open now. Visit https://www.snowyhydro.com.au/entry-level-programs/ and apply by Friday 28 May 2021.

Snowy Hydro Managing Director and CEO Paul Broad, said a Snowy Hydro apprenticeship or traineeship combined paid, on-the-job experience with vocational education and training.

“We’ve been running school-leaver programs for 31 years and we’re going to keep investing in locals and the future workforce because it’s a win-win for all,” Mr Broad said.

“We’re equipping the region’s next generation with job-ready skills and qualifications, and Snowy Hydro benefits by developing a pipeline of highly-trained staff, which is critical to ensure we have a skilled workforce in the future.”

Snowy Hydro traineeships and apprenticeships can lead to longer-term roles with the business, as well as further training, university, or jobs with other employers.

Information technology trainee Maria Tarasyuk completed her two-year Certificate III early, and has taken up a new year-long contract while she completes a software engineering degree at university. “I feel like I’m learning twice as much because I learn in both environments and I can apply it in real life at Snowy Hydro,” Maria said.

Apprenticeships

This program provides a four-year apprenticeship with Snowy Hydro while completing either a Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade (Fitting/Machining), or Certificate III Electrotechnology Electrician Electrical Trade through Wagga Wagga TAFE.

During the apprenticeship there is on-the-job training and mentoring by experienced tradespeople in an exciting and unique work environment.

To ensure apprentices develop a wide range of skills, they rotate through the Snowy Scheme’s operating and maintenance centres in Jindabyne, Khancoban, Cabramurra and Talbingo.

Traineeships

Traineeships are available to students who are in year 12 this year, in a range of business areas, including information technology, energy generation and asset management, communications, human resources, finance, community relations, Snowy 2.0 and procurement.

During the year-long program, trainees complete a Certificate III and IV in Business Administration or Certificate III in Information Technology through Cooma TAFE, paired with on-the-job training and mentoring by experts. The trainee intake also feeds into our cadetship program, in which Snowy Hydro sponsors cadets to study a relevant STEM degree at the University of Wollongong.

News

LOCAL TRAINEES HIT THE GROUND RUNNING

29/01/2021

Snowy Hydro is buzzing with fresh energy and new faces after welcoming the 2021 trainee intake.

As part of its commitment to providing employment opportunities, skills training and insight into STEM careers for local young people, Snowy Hydro annually offers 12-month, paid traineeships to school-leavers from the local area.

This year, 12 trainees have taken up positions in a range of business areas including information technology, energy generation and asset management, communications, human resources, finance, community relations, Snowy 2.0 and procurement. Ten are based in Cooma and two of the trainees are regionally based, with one in Khancoban and the other in Talbingo.

Snowy Hydro CEO Paul Broad said the highly-successful traineeship program was in its 30th year.

“Snowy has been giving local young people a start in their careers since 1991 – literally hundreds of trainees have gained on-the-job experience with us while combining business administration studies at TAFE.

“We’re very proud to support local people and our communities and also to offer opportunities that focus on training and development. This helps make sure our company has the people and skills that are needed now and into the future,” Mr Broad said.

Some of the new trainees are second and third generation Snowy employees. Talbingo-based trainee Aylah Rice’s grandfather was a diesel mechanic who helped build the Snowy Scheme. A 2020 trainee, Ian Grant, has just embarked on an electrical apprenticeship with Snowy Hydro based at Talbingo, while his father Martin is a Snowy Hydro Maintenance Manager at Jindabyne.

A number of the trainees are planning to go to university to study engineering. The Snowy Hydro traineeship provides participants with the opportunity to apply for a cadetship, in which the company sponsors students to study at the University of Wollongong.

“We see the traineeship program as a valuable pathway young people can take as they embark on their working lives and we encourage them to explore study opportunities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM),” Mr Broad said.

“There are so many talented young people living in this region and we see them as our next generation of Snowy Hydro engineers, scientists, and information technology experts.”

Applications for 2022 Snowy Hydro traineeships will open in Term 2 – keep an eye on the Snowy Hydro website and social media channels for more information.

News

SNOWY 2.0 MAIN WORKS TO DRIVE JOBS AND INVESTMENT

28/08/2020

Snowy 2.0 today achieved another significant milestone with the Federal Government’s approval for the project’s main works construction.

The Snowy 2.0 pumped-hydro project is a major expansion of the Snowy Scheme, linking two existing dams, Tantangara and Talbingo, through 27km of tunnels and building an underground power station.

The approval today allows construction to commence on the underground power station, waterways and access tunnels, and other supporting infrastructure.

It follows on from exploratory works, which got underway in 2019 and has included constructing site access roads, establishing a construction compound and excavating an exploratory tunnel.

“This approval marks the next stage in Snowy 2.0’s construction and brings our vision to become Australia’s biggest battery and storage for renewable energy one step closer,” Snowy Hydro’s CEO Paul Broad said.

“It’s full steam ahead for the Snowy 2.0 project that will pave the way for Australia’s energy transition.

“It also unlocks billions of dollars of investment that will create thousands of jobs over the life of the project and provide a much-needed boost to the local and regional economy, which has been hit by drought, bushfires and COVID-19.

“Snowy 2.0 is already playing a major part in kick-starting the local economy, with more than 100 local businesses involved and more than $35 million spent in the Snowy Mountains region.

“On completion of the project in 2026, it will provide 2,000 megawatts of new peaking power and firming capacity that will provide clean and reliable energy to millions of Australians.”