Western Sydney International Airport opening up career opportunities for next generation workers

Teenager Mikayla Beecroft was convinced her only chance of a career in corporate affairs would involve travelling 45km from her home in western Sydney to the CBD.

Teenager Mikayla Beecroft was convinced her only chance of a career in corporate affairs would involve travelling 45km from her home in western Sydney to the CBD.

But her traineeship at Western Sydney International Airport has now turned into a full-time job with the airport’s growing corporate affairs team.

“I just wanted to get a bit of an introduction into the corporate world. I started working on a building site and now I am working on an airport,” Mikayla said.

“I always thought I would be driving to the city to work in this career and now I am working just a 15 minute drive from my home.”

The 19-year-old from Claremont Meadows started in the corporate affairs team straight from Jamison High School in Penrith and now handles the airport’s communication with the local community.

Mikayla Beecroft is a community engagement officer for the airport project. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Working in community engagement is really fulfilling and quite exciting at such a young age,” she said.

Katy Hannouch, the airport’s general manager of community engagement, said the traineeships gave local students practical skills combined with a formal education.

“The Traineeship Program is aimed at HSC graduate students and the trainees work in a twelve-month paid program. Students work four days a week and attend TAFE on the fifth day to further their studies.

“The program is extremely popular. We have had more than 400 applications for the next round of trainees,” she said.

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