Industry Visit, Ballarat

Earlier this month, our Ballarat Finding and Keeping a Job participants had an incredible opportunity to step inside two major organisations in our community — CitiPower and Powercor Australia.

The day was designed to give participants a real taste of different career pathways and help them explore what their future could look like after school.

The visit began with a presentation on jobs and careers, followed by light refreshments and afternoon tea. Participants then took part in a fast-paced “speed talking” session with around 10 CitiPower and Powercor employees, who generously shared their personal career journeys, advice, and experiences.

The learning didn’t stop there. In small groups, participants toured the offices, depot, workshop, and power station, gaining valuable insight into the scale and impact of these industries. A highlight for many was the VR simulation, where they had the chance to virtually install power poles — a fun and interactive way to experience part of the job.

The day was a huge success, with all 15 participants engaging enthusiastically and leaving with new knowledge, confidence, and inspiration. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and it was clear how much they enjoyed seeing behind the scenes of such large and important local employers.

“We spent a number of weeks working with some amazing staff from CitiPower and Powercor to facilitate this industry visit. It was amazing to have participants and families so receptive to weekly changes, so that 15 participants could come together to enjoy this experience on the one day.”

– Aimee O’Callaghan, NDIS Mentor

A huge thank you to the teams at CitiPower and Powercor for opening their doors and making this possible. Experiences like this are so important in helping young people build confidence, broaden their horizons, and start to imagine a future that excites them.

Learn more about how are-able supports school leavers through our Finding and Keeping a Job program.