New internship program seeking businesses and students to charge towards net zero

The Minns Labor Government is collaborating with businesses to build the net zero workforce of the future, by giving students an opportunity to be job-ready for a career in decarbonisation with a new $1 million internship program.

Applications are now open for businesses and students who want to take part in NSW Skills for Net Zero. It is a 3-year pilot program which will pair 100 tertiary students with businesses in NSW to undertake at least 200 hours of paid work on projects that reduce emissions.

Businesses involved in the program will receive end-to-end recruitment and placement support to address specific skills gaps.

Workplaces will also receive a $2,500 payment to subsidise the intern’s wage, paid after the internship is completed.

Students in their penultimate or final year of tertiary study are encouraged to apply and help businesses contribute to achieving net zero across the state. The types of roles they could take on could involve:

• supporting sustainable packaging and emissions reporting in advanced manufacturing
• focusing on reducing emissions in agribusiness
• contributing to more sustainable freight and logistics processes.

In addition to boosting skills and supporting businesses and industry, this action will take NSW closer to our legislated net zero targets, to safeguard our state and our planet for future generations.

NSW Skills for Net Zero is part of the government’s Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative which provides opportunities for NSW businesses to remain leaders in the net zero transition. The NSW Government has engaged CSIRO to deliver the program.

For details, students and businesses are encouraged to visit: https://www.csiro.au/en/education/Initiatives/NSW-Skills-for-Net-Zero.

Quote attributable to Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Penny Sharpe:

'This program is a win-win-win for students, businesses and the move to net zero.

'Businesses will tell the program what skills they need to further their decarbonisation projects, and we’ll connect them with talented tertiary students from whatever course is required.

'I encourage any business working on decarbonising projects to see how they could benefit from having a skilled student intern on staff.'

Quote attributable to Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan:

'The Minns Labor Government is continuing to fund the training and skills development needed to grow our workforce and give students the experience they need to secure the jobs of the future.

'I urge passionate tertiary students in their second-last and final-year to explore this fantastic opportunity and see how their skills can contribute to our net zero future.'