Council trainees building skills for the future
The next generation of local government professionals is taking shape at Lockyer Valley Regional Council, with the latest cohort of trainees gaining valuable skills.
This year, six trainees have commenced their journey with Council, undertaking either a Certificate III in Business Administration or a Certificate II in Horticulture.
Over 12 months, the trainees will gain practical, hands-on experience while learning from staff across a range of business units.
The 2026 trainee cohort includes:
- Jasper Melton – Infrastructure Delivery
- Rachel Trinham – Infrastructure Design and Asset Management
- Isabel Talbot Rigney – Business Support and Innovation
- Tate Logan – Parks, Recreation and Cemetries
- Kimberley Cooper – Information Communication Technology (ICT)
- Kayne De Vry – Information Management
Business Administration trainees commenced in April and have already been developing new skills and gaining insight into local government operations.
For Rachel Trinham, the traineeship presented an opportunity to continue learning and develop new career pathways.
"When I saw the traineeship, I thought it would give me the best possible avenue to learn new things and open doors for future positions," she said.
"I love learning about all the different departments and how they work together."
Working within the ICT Team, Kimberley Cooper said the opportunity to gain workplace experience while continuing to learn was a key reason she applied.
"Working for Council appealed to me because the work directly supports the local community," Kimberley said.
"The traineeship offered a great pathway to build my skills in administration and ICT while contributing to meaningful projects."
For Kayne De Vry, the traineeship offered a chance to gain administration experience and get a foot in the door within local government.
“During the few months working within the Information Management Team, I’ve learned and appreciated how important it is to maintain good record keeping and the role it plays in supporting staff and the community,” he said.
“It’s rewarding to know this work helps preserve important records as our region continues to grow. When documents are archived correctly, staff and customers can easily access the information they need for years to come.”
Horticulture Trainee Tate Logan, who completed agriculture science in high school and has always been interested in plants, said that he applied for the traineeship to build on his credentials.
“I am really enjoying getting out and about and working in the sunshine,” he said.
“I’ve been doing a bit of mowing, planting and looking after the gardens at the cemeteries and down the main street of Gatton with the Parks, Recreation and Cemeteries Team.”
Council is proud to support trainees through opportunities that combine formal study with practical experience, helping to develop the next generation of skilled professionals while strengthening the local workforce.
Applications for new traineeship opportunities are expected to open in early 2027.
If you are interested in pursuing a traineeship with Council, keep an eye on our Current Vacancies page www.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au/current-vacancies and social media channels for updates and application details.
