A unique, nationally-recognised apprenticeship program that is helping to improve lives in some of Western Australia’s most remote communities has been acknowledged at the AIM WA WestBusiness Pinnacle Awards.
Horizon Power’s Remote Community Utilities Worker (RCUW) program is the first of its kind in Australia, receiving the Human Resource Management Excellence Award at the event last night in Perth.
The RCUW program is improving the reliability of power supplies in remote communities by upskilling local employees to reduce the length and duration of power outages in their areas.
The program is also benefiting communities by creating jobs and boosting economic development.
Horizon Power Managing Director Frank Tudor said a significant number of Horizon Power customers lived in remote communities, and the organisation was committed to making them sustainable, thriving places to live and work.
“We dedicated seven years to building this training program because we believe in its value and we know it will have a significant impact on the communities where graduates are working,” Mr Tudor said.
“The graduates of the program are incredibly proud of it, which is the most important thing, but it is also fantastic to receive wider recognition from WA’s business community.”
Earlier this year the first graduates of the program were awarded their trade certificates and statements of attainment in the Certificate III Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) RCUW qualification, marking the end of their apprenticeships.
These individuals will now continue their employment with Horizon Power, with a new range of skills they can bring to their work to benefit themselves and their community.
The Pinnacle Awards recognise excellence across the corporate, not-for-profit, community and government sectors.
As part of the award Horizon Power received $10,000 to donate to its nominated charity Ronald McDonald Learning Program, which it has supported since 2012 by funding the placement of three children from the Karratha and Esperance communities.
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