The council’s trainee program has provided training and employment opportunities for local young people for more than a decade, with the aim of keeping them and their skills in Eurobodalla.

Many go on to gain permanent jobs in the council, while others move on to other organisations taking with them valuable skills and qualifications.

The latest recruitment filled 23 positions ranging from business administration, engineering and civil construction to community development, ranger, tourism and water operations.

The trainees are as follows: Kelly Tout - civil construction, Giancarlo Odgers - civil construction, Luke Stevens - civil construction, Paris Hadley - civil construction, Ashley Shepherd – water operations, Kayleb Hawkins – business administration, Jesse Tonge – civil construction, Makaela Latham - business admin, Kelly-Ann Marshall - ranger services, Tyson Beaudean - civil construction, Blair Ashworth - business admin, Matthew Lawer - water operations, Amanda Freer - water operations, Max Downey - civil construction, Thomas Brown - business admin, Karinya Suter - business admin, Jack Dart - civil construction, Kurt Eldridge - water operations, Jasna Kalic - business admin and Emily Parrish - business admin. Absent: Alex Wilson – electrical and James Jenkins - water and sewer technical.

General manager Catherine Dale extended a warm welcome to the new team members.

“The new recruits come from a wide range of backgrounds, and it’s great to see women in traditionally male-dominated roles, such as civil construction and water operations,” she said.

“We recognise the difficulties local young people can face if they want to remain in the area and start a career.

“Council’s trainee program is our way of giving them a head start with on-the-job experience and formal training.”

The council’s next trainee intake for 2019 will take be advertised in August.