Western Australia’s energy sector has gained three new passionate employees, thanks to an internship program linking Aboriginal university students to paid opportunities.
Horizon Power has proudly partnered with the national not-for-profit organisation CareerTrackers over the past four years, with the students playing a part in Western Australia’s energy transition and gaining valuable skills along the way.
Since 2021, Horizon Power, has welcomed 11 Aboriginal interns through the program, with three successfully securing ongoing work at the Bentley office in Perth, setting the foundations for a bright career in energy.
Horizon Power said it currently employs 48 Aboriginal staff – just over eight per cent of the workforce – in a variety of roles across its service area in Western Australia, including the Kimberley, Pilbara, Mid West and Gascoyne as well as the Esperance and Goldfields regions.
Horizon Power operates across the full energy supply chain with generation, transmission, distribution and retail services, delivering power to approximately 47,000 customer accounts. Its service area is the largest geographical catchment of any Australian power provider, spanning 2.3 million square kilometres.
University of Western Australia student – and now part-time Horizon Power employee, Matthew Harris, has completed a number of internships in different divisions of the organisation and said the experience has been invaluable.
“The internship program has really allowed me to grow personally and professionally. Many others in university never get the opportunity to work in an office environment and learn interpersonal skills that are so important in the workforce,” he said.
Now employed on a permanent part-time basis at Horizon Power in the Government Relations field, Mr Harris said the job has allowed him to continuously develop and expand his skillset.
“The teams I work with encourage my development by including me in meaningful project work and by valuing me as a person and colleague,” he said.
Horizon Power Heritage and Native Title Assistant, Tiarnee Lester, said her journey with the energy provider has had many significant milestones.
“In June 2023, I embarked on my first-ever internship at Horizon Power in the Aboriginal Engagement Team. This was my first introduction into the corporate world, and it provided me with invaluable experience in office dynamics. Following that, I was offered a summer internship in the Sustainability team and secured part-time employment as a Heritage and Native Title Assistant, officially starting my career in the heritage space and my first industry job.
“I progressed from an intern in a role that was unrelated to my degree to one that now aligns perfectly with my passion,” Ms Lester said.
“I feel I am fortunate to work for Horizon Power, a company that places great importance on Aboriginal experiences and employees, a commitment that is rare in this capacity,” she said.
Horizon Power Graduate Engineer, Gordon Naley, has had a slightly different career trajectory.
“As part of my engineering degree, I was required to complete 450 hours of professional practice,” he said.
“As chance would have it, in my third year of uni I received a call from CareerTrackers, who explained that their objective is to introduce young Indigenous professionals into industry and to equip them with the skills required to transition from the classroom into a professional career.”
Mr Naley said he expressed his interest in the program and was introduced to the Horizon Power team, and shortly thereafter began his internship.
“The internship culminated in a part-time role and I was then offered a graduate position on completion of my degree in renewable energy.”
Mr Naley said that besides securing employment, one of the most rewarding aspects of his internship was the relationships established with his work colleagues.
“The camaraderie and support from my team fostered a nurturing environment that enabled my growth. Additionally, I networked with professionals across various departments, gaining valuable insights into different facets of the industry. These connections have become invaluable,” he said.
Horizon Power Manager Traditional Owners Relationships and Reconciliation, Aaron Matthews, said he was extremely proud of the interns and what they had achieved.
“It’s truly wonderful that Horizon Power can provide opportunities that align with the interns’ aspirations, through the work we do as a regional service provider,” he said.
Horizon Power CEO, Stephanie Unwin, congratulated all the interns who had participated in the program to date and encouraged other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from all disciplines and backgrounds to get involved.
“CareerTrackers is a terrific program which provides students with a valuable start to their career and important professional skills,” she said.
“It’s rewarding to see the students grow during their time with us and we really value the different perspectives and ideas they bring to our organisation and our projects.
“Our intern program provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander university students, like Matt, Tiarnee and Gordon, with real-life, hands-on experience.”
Ms Unwin said the program was also an investment in the energy provider’s future workforce and provided students valuable experience working in a corporate environment.
“It is especially pleasing to see some of the students have continued on with us and are helping Horizon Power support the state on its journey to net zero.”
