Our Traineeship Program is a launching pad for a career in horticulture, natural area conservation or civil construction.
We offer multiple traineeship placements each year, giving successful applicants experience working in different areas of local government. You are supported on your journey with mentorship from fully qualified City employees for the duration of your traineeship.
All trainees get real-world experience while learning and working towards a trade certificate, all while getting paid a competitive salary!
What are your options?
Want to contribute to building the road network that keeps the City of Swan moving?
Working with our Engineering Construction team, civil construction trainees learn about planning, and creating the City’s road and drainage infrastructure. Learn the theory in the classroom with our Registered Training Organisation, then put it into practice on-site. Working in and around heavy machinery, this traineeship takes three years to complete.
Future career options could be specialist machine operators or team leadership roles.
Our Surveying trainees also work with our Engineering Construction team. Surveyors measure land and the environment to allow for accurate planning and delivery of the City’s projects. Formal training is completed at North Metropolitan TAFE’s East Perth campus.
All onsite education and practical learning is provided by the City, with mentorship from an experienced surveyor. The duration of this traineeship depends on your chosen certificate level.
This traineeship provides the foundation for a career in surveying or as an alternative pathway into university for other roles in construction.
Working with our Natural Environment team, conservation and land management trainees learn key skills to protect plants, animals and their habitats. Depending on your chosen certificate level, this traineeship is conducted over one to two years, helping trainees develop a broad skillset with the option to specialise in the following areas:
- Indigenous land management
- Ecological restoration
- Land
- Parks and wildlife management
- Pest controller
- Marine conservation
- Fire management
- Mined land rehabilitation.
Formal training is completed at one of these recognised TAFE institutes:
- North Metro Midland or Joondalup
- South Metro Murdoch.
Creating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is a key priority for the City of Swan as we lead and include the community in our reconciliation journey.
We’re proud to offer the positions with our Natural Environment team to our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. This traineeship allows individuals to learn cultural practices and develop a greater connection to country.
How does a job in the great outdoors sound to you?
As a horticulture trainee, you’ll work with our Parks Maintenance team to gain skills in all things plants and trees. Learning is supported by real-world training at City parks and reserves where you can have a positive impact on our environment. You could also specialise in a horticultural trade such as irrigation, which is in high demand.
Formal training is completed at one of these recognised TAFE institutes:
- North Metro Midland or Joondalup
- South Metro Murdoch
Potential career options include mowing and tractor operation, horticultural roles, spray operators, irrigation maintainers or parks supervision roles.
The benefits
- Get paid to learn and work. Much like an apprenticeship, our trainees get paid to attend training days in addition to their usual workdays
- Once you finish your traineeship, you gain a nationally recognised trade certificate, boosting your career prospects and making you a strong applicant for permanent positions within the City
- Practical experience is gained in multiple areas of work, helping you discover your passion and career direction.
What do I need to apply?
Keen to get started with the City? We have a few basic requirements to be able to consider you for a position. These include:
- Having a C-class driver's licence
- Meeting minimum education levels, such as achieving at least C-grade levels in Year 10 English and maths
- Meeting City employment checks, including police and medical clearances.
If you would like to formally apply, visit our job board(open in new window) to see our vacancies. Trainee positions may become available at any time throughout the year, so please register your interest to be notified.
Trainees and City staff at work
City of Swan staff at a road construction site.
An excavator.
A construction worker in high visibility clothing watches an excavator scoop sand into a truck trailer.
