Work experience

Council offers work experience within various disciplines, including but not limited to:

• Animal Managment (ACE)
• Community Engagement
• Construction
• Customer Service
• Electrical
• Engineering
• Environmental
• Horticulture
• Information Technology
• Laboratory Services
• Library Services
• Marketing & Events
• Mechanical
• Planning
• Plumbing
• Water Operations

If you are not a current student, you may be interested in volunteering at Council. Learn more about the opportunities available on our Volunteering page.

Council welcomes applications from all students, but we often receive more applications than we have places to offer. We give preference to those who live (permanent / family home) or study within the Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils region. This comprises the following local government areas:  Cairns, Carpentaria, Cassowary Coast, Cook, Croydon, Douglas, Etheridge, Hinchinbrook, Hope Vale, Mareeba, Tablelands, Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah.

Expressions of interest should be submitted at least 6 weeks prior to your preferred placement date.

To be eligible to undertake work experience at Council, you must be:

• at least 15 years of age
• enrolled with an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognised higher education, vocational education and training (VET), or school.  (Note: placements for tertiary students will only be considered where it is a course requirement)
• a teacher or trainer currently employed by a high school, university, TAFE or Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
• covered by personal accident and public liability insurance (through your school, university, TAFE or RTO).
• an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident of Australia or have an entitlement to work visa.

Depending on the type of work experience, some compulsory minimum qualifications or prerequisite may need to be met to be eligible for placement. These may include a general construction safety (white) card, vaccination (Twinrix), working in proximity to traffic certification, or supply of own personal protective equipment (PPE).

In certain instances, Council collaborates with universities to offer paid placements, including co-op programs, internships, and similar opportunities.

As these positions become available, Council will advertise them on our Vacancies & applications webpage. Alternatively, institutions may contact us directly by emailing employmentpathways@cairns.qld.gov.au for further information.