The 2024 Essential Energy annual Apprentice and Trainee Graduation was held in Port Macquarie last night (15 August).

Apprentices and trainees from 77 locations in regional, rural and remote NSW and Southern Queensland attended to celebrate their journey, while congratulating the outstanding achievements of their colleagues.

The winners of each category reflect the competitive nature of this year’s intake, which saw a 355 per cent increase in applications for 103 roles such as cable jointers, powerline workers and electrical technicians.

The awards recognise apprentices and trainees who have been outstanding in all aspects of their training and have consistently demonstrated Essential Energy’s core values and ethics to our customers and communities. The awards are an accumulation of workplace behavioural attributes and attitude, safety leadership, results-based assessment and overall academic performance.

We are proud to announce the award winners for 2024:

Overall Apprentice/Trainee of the Year – Andrew George (Gunnedah depot)

Dux of the Year - Jordan Heaton (Nambucca Heads depot)

Female Apprentice/Trainee of the Year – Tegan Molloy (Jindabyne depot)

Powerline Worker Apprentices of the Year – Andrew George (Central NSW - Gunnedah), Josh Airs (Northern NSW - Tenterfield) and Tegan Molloy (Southern NSW - Jindabyne)

Electrical Technician of the Year - Geordan Ellicott (Wagga Wagga depot)

Electrical Technician-Powerline Worker Apprentice of the year – Corey Ryan (Leeton depot)

Cable Jointer of the Year – Nathan Henderson (Bathurst depot)

Safety, Culture, Community Award – Nicole Peacock (Albury depot)

Peer Excellence Award - Jacob Dewberry (Central - Walgett), Joie Whybrow (South - Young), Matt Williamson (North – Port Macquarie), with special mention to Justin Locker (Cooma) for showing skill level beyond years of experience

First Nations Apprentice of the Year - Riley Davies (Ballina depot) and Harry Luff (Wagga Wagga depot)

Asset Inspector Trainee of the Year - Nick Shapter (Barraba depot).

Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Andrew George, of Gunnedah, praised his fellow apprentices who were equally deserving of the overall accolade.

“It’s a great honour but it also says a lot for the class of eight who I did my apprenticeship with at Parkes,” Andrew says.

“We had a great class and I thoroughly enjoyed my time training with the others.”

Previously a builder, Andrew was looking for a career as an electrician when he saw the apprenticeship program with Essential Energy.

“There are so many different things you get to do, and you work with people who are like-minded and in there to do their best. I love being able to go out in the middle of a storm and you’re the person looking for what’s happened and how you’re going to get the power back on for people in our community,” Andrew says.

Essential Energy Chief People Officer Amalie Smith says now is the most exciting time to start an apprenticeship or traineeship in the energy sector.

“The opportunities and possibilities are endless,” Amalie says. “Essential Energy’s apprentices and trainees are our next generation of employees who can take on everything from powerlines to powering our next generation battery systems.

“The jobs of the future are still being defined, which is one of the attractions for people entering the industry now. We aren’t just offering people a job; we are offering them a stimulating long-term career.”

Essential Energy CEO John Cleland with Apprentice and Trainee of the Year Andrew George. Photo Lucy Humphries Photography