SA Water scholarships for tomorrow’s leaders
by Geraldine Hinter
SA Water is giving three UniSA students the chance to build on their interest in the water industry with scholarships offering paid work in an organisation that aims to grow its own recruits.
"Introduced as part of SA Water’s 150th birthday celebrations last year, the scholarships were designed to give something back to the community – celebrating where we’ve come from and where we are now," SA Water’s Youth Recruitment Manager, Natalie De Boo said.
A UniSA graduate with degrees in international studies and international business, De Boo coordinated the scholarship program, which has a vision to provide access and opportunities for SA’s leaders of tomorrow.
"SA Water targets specific areas including academic excellence, females in non-traditional roles, Indigenous and disadvantaged students, and students from rural backgrounds," De Boo said.
"These areas are in line with our business and strategic needs, ideally for students to move into roles at SA Water. The scholarships also promote and increase awareness of what SA Water can offer graduates, as well as complement our long-term recruitment strategy," she said.
"We were finding it hard to source skilled civil engineering graduates, so that’s why we offered two civil engineering scholarships worth $10,000 ($5000 cash and $5000 paid placement) including one for women only, an Indigenous scholarship worth $10,000 ($5000 cash and $5000 paid placement), as well as three business, and three natural and built environments scholarships each worth $2,500."
The students offered placements will work at SA Water during the summer break, with site visits giving them an opportunity to meet staff at a senior management level, recent graduates and their supervisors, and see some of SA Water’s facilities, to get a feel for what the industry offers in different areas.
Third-year civil engineering student and scholarship winner, Kai Keller developed a growing interest in water after completing an engineering course focusing on water, and is looking forward to his placement at SA Water. He hopes that this opportunity will give him a head start into a civil engineering career in the area of water engineering.
"I feel that water infrastructure, along with supply, is a growing issue of increasing importance. It is an area that could be a good career opportunity, and at what better place than SA Water, which organises the state’s water supplies on many different levels?" Keller said.
"It’s good to see industry involved in the University and it is encouraging for students that our discipline is being acknowledged by these generous scholarships."