Charles Darwin University (CDU) electrotechnology students from across regional NT have completed enhanced training by Power and Water Corporation in Alice Springs.
The Essential Service Operators (ESOs) are community residents employed by local councils in remote communities across the Territory to maintain power, sewerage and water infrastructure.
They service some of the Northern Territory’s most remote areas, often in harsh and difficult conditions and play an important role in maintaining electricity and water operations.
The 42 ESOs from the Alice Springs and Barkly regions including Ampilatwatja, Ikuntji, Ltyentye Apurte, Ti Tree and Yuendumu undertook Power and Water's familiarisation training at the Sadadeen Valley Complex and at the Alice Springs Resort.
Most ESOs are completing CDU’s Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Remote area essential services) with course work completed at the workplace and assessed by CDU trainers.
Len Griffiths, Manager Remote Operations South, Power and Water said the Corporation was committed to providing quality training to ESOs in remote communities.
‘We are very keen to involve more people in the training cycle and support CDU in providing quality education and we want to deepen the relationship with the university to further build capacity,’ he said.
Glenn Irvine, lecturer in essential services, visits communities to assess and train the students on behalf of Power and Water.
He said the ESOs were keen to learn and progress in their roles maintaining essential services.
‘Many ESOs are keen to learn solid skills that help them in their path of self-sufficiency in the communities,’ he said.
The three-day course covered broad skills in electricity generation, water and sewerage operations, water quality testing and fire safety.
It is held twice a year in Alice Springs, Katherine and Darwin.