Santos apprentice honoured as training program wins national honour

A Territory apprentice has been acknowledged for her work with a leading national company. Read who it was.

A Santos-inspired recruitment and employment program has won a national award for delivering training and job opportunities for Aboriginal people.

The Santos, KAEFER Integrated Services program took home the best social value initiative at the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply awards in Sydney this month.

The award recognised projects that delivered significant social value and community benefits, with nine Aboriginal cadets starting jobs at Darwin LNG facility this year after completing a scaffolding traineeship and another nine beginning traineeships in June in areas including mechanical fitting, boilermaking, administration, accounting and bookkeeping.

Santos Darwin general manager Peter Kirkpatrick said the award acknowledged the pivotal role training and education programs could play in improving outcomes for Aboriginal Territorians.

Santos’ NAIDOC apprentice of the year Vanessa Williams.

“I am extremely proud of our Santos-KAEFER Employment Program,” Mr Kirkpatrick said. “It’s a genuine example of how Santos is taking real and practical action to help close the gap on Aboriginal disadvantage in the Northern Territory.

“The successful program is just one of several that Santos is rolling out in the Territory in coming months and years aimed at maximising employment and training opportunities for Aboriginal Territorians.

“Our major projects such as Barossa Gas and the Darwin LNG Life Extension will allow us continue to develop and fund initiatives that will support local Aboriginal communities for decades to come.”

KAEFER chief operating officer Trent Northover said the Santos partnership was about skills and jobs.

“We share an ongoing commitment to fostering the growth and development of Aboriginal Territorians and this program providing structure pathways that will lead to meaning, sustainable employment,” he said.

Vanessa Williams on the job.

The training award came after Santos administration trainee Vanessa Williams was named apprentice of the year at the 2024 NAIDOC awards.

A Tiwi Island woman, Ms Williams first completed a supply chain operations traineeship at Santos’ Darwin Supply Base.

After a varied career that included retail, education and hair dressing, Ms Williams began a pathway through warehouse and logistics and is now completing a Cert III in business administration traineeship at Santos DLNG.

“I have enjoyed every minute of my traineeships and I’ve gained valuable insights into the industry, honed my skills, and cultivated a new-found confidence,” Ms Williams said.

“My daughters have witnessed this transformation, learning the importance of perseverance and happiness in one’s work.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel back to the Tiwi Islands with Santos and speak directly with community about how training can impact their lives positively.

“Seeing my family and friends’ children gain employment and traineeships in the oil and gas industry has been immensely rewarding, reinforcing my belief that everyone deserves equal opportunities for growth and success.”