More graduates pass through Santos’s energy traineeships

Another eight trainees have graduated from a diversity-busting energy training program. Read who saluted.

A pioneering operator traineeship program has marked its eighth graduation round, in the process preparing almost 50 new recruits for the emerging Northern Territory resources sector.

Barossa-gas developer and Beetaloo-player Santos recently marked the graduation of seven process operator trainees under its Darwin LNG process operator training program.

The seven trainees now hold a nationally accredited Certificate III in process plant operations and are employed full time at Santos’ Darwin LNG facility.

Peter Kirkpatrick, Santos’ Darwin Operations general manager, said since it commenced in 2010, the program had provided almost 50 Territorians with long-term, skilled career pathways in the local gas industry.

DLNG employee Nick Yarran

He said Santos was committed to investing in more programs like DLNG Process Operator Traineeships which provided Territorians with formal and on-the-job training, and the objective of long-term, well-paid secure employment in the gas industry.

“At Santos, we are committed to real action to help communities thrive in the Northern Territory through training, education and good jobs,” he said.

“These are a universal foundation for ensuring everyone has the chance to achieve a quality of life most Australians – especially in our big cities – take for granted.

“As we approach first gas at Barossa, we look forward to expanding our scope of training programs and pre-employment pathways, as well as our on-the-ground investment in building better outcomes for coastal communities through our Barossa Aboriginal Future Fund.”

The DLNG process operator training program was the Territory’s first LNG traineeship and was designed to address industry workforce needs and skills shortages as well as tangible local content and diversity outcomes.

The program has now been extended to the Barossa Opal floating production storage and offtake facility (FPSO) where another two trainees are completing the program, and a further four are in their second year.

Originally published as More graduates pass through Santos’s energy traineeships