Broadcast Australia’s Apprenticeship
in
Electronics and Communications
The Role
Our Broadcast Technicians work on a highly varied range of electronic,
broadcast and communication equipment.
You'll be based at a district office and travel to broadcasting sites, often at
remote localities by aircraft or 4WD. These trips may involve staying away from
home for prolonged periods of time. As an Apprentice you will assist an
experienced, skilled Broadcast Technician at the scene of jobs and participate
in the installation, maintenance, and repair of broadcast and communication
equipment.
The role requires emergency fault repair & maintenance along with regular
Proof of Performance testing for clients which takes place outside normal
working hours.
This is a great chance to work with an amazing array of analogue and digital
based equipment, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Analogue & Digital Television transmitters
Analogue & Digital Radio transmitters
Satellite receiving systems
SCADA systems
Precision Test Equipment, including network analyzers, spectrum
analyzers, RF analyzers and audio and video analyzers.
High power antenna and combiner systems
You need:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
a genuine desire to develop a career in electronics, communications
and electro-mechanical equipment
To have completed Year 12 with good subject results in Mathematics
and Science (with Physics content).
To have a Current Drivers Licence, or working towards completing
your licence.
To be medically and physically fit
To be willing and able to travel to isolated areas of your state
practical experience with PCs and basic computer skills
To always work safely
To be a good communicator and team player and be socially inclusive
To be an Australian citizen, or permanent resident who is applying for
citizenship.
Training
If your application is successful, you can look forward to completing a
Certificate III in Electronics and Communications at the relevant training
college for your state. This is delivered one day a week in NSW and ACT and
will be block release in Brisbane for QLD. When attending training interstate,
you will be paid an allowance for living expenses.
In addition to this you will receive a number of comprehensive development
opportunities throughout your apprenticeship such as,
Buddy scheme - When you accept your offer at Broadcast Australia, we’ll
assign you a 'buddy’. This will usually be the administrative support within the
district, who will help you to find your way around and settle into your new
environment.
Training and Development - Structured training, on the job learning and
professional development activities. You will undertake specialised training on
all the major types of equipment used by the company, interspersed with onthe-job training in the field, where you will make an active contribution to our
maintenance operations.
Apprentice Networking and Learning Group - Provides you with an
opportunity to develop peer support relationships, and to share with and learn
from each others experiences in Broadcast Australia.
Performance Management - The Apprenticeship Performance Agreement
documents your roles and responsibilities, work requirements, performance
outcomes and professional development activities.
Corporate Mentoring: You will be allocated a corporate mentor - typically one
of the company's most senior technicians who will act as a 'sounding board'
during the early stages of your career. This relationship is designed to give you
the opportunity to engage in open discussion, objective feedback and guidance
regarding your future within Broadcast Australia.
Continual support: Professional ‘Developing You’ Programmes: These
programmes are designed to offer ongoing development and education within
the field.
On-line Learning: You will be able to access personal and professional
development courses from your work computer, via our e-learning system.
Stretch Assignments: There are lots of opportunities to continually stretch
yourself throughout your apprenticeship including participating in company
events, assisting at Apprenticeship recruitment events, becoming involved in
education liaison activities and lots more.
Work Locations
Travel is a large component of the work as a Broadcast Technician, but will
usually be from a permanent base and stay within state boundaries.
Permanent locations we are recruiting in are:
•
•
•
•
•
Gunghalin, Canberra
Wetherill Park, Sydney
Rockhampton
Toowoomba
Aitkenvale, Townsville
Salary and Benefits
We offer a competitive starting base salary. Once you have completed certain
modules and competencies you will then advance through the apprenticeship
classifications and your salary will increase.
In addition to your salary and penalty rates we offer a generous employercontributed superannuation scheme after five years of service, as well as
competitive leave entitlements.
All accommodation and food will be paid for when travelling to site. You will
also be supplied with a toolkit, PPE and Broadcast Australia branded clothing.
After you complete your apprenticeship you will be eligible for selection to
advance to Broadcast Technician Level 1 classification. You could then
potentially be offered a full time permanent contract with Broadcast Australia.
Promotion
Due to our size, diversity and extensive network of offices across Australia,
there are excellent opportunities for promotion and to build a successful and
rewarding career. Promotion decisions are based on merit and you can apply
for promotional opportunities as they arise.
Recruitment Timetable
•
•
•
•
•
•
Closing date for applications: Friday 30th October 2009
Telephone interviews: early to mid November
Face-to-face interviews: early to mid November
Notification of selection: late November to early December
Pre-engagement health, citizenship, qualification & character checks:
December
Program commences: late January 2010
How to Apply
The apprenticeship application form is available at www.broadcastaustralia.com.au
under the heading “careers”.
Applicants must have citizenship or be a permanent resident able to apply for
citizenship.
You must attach all relevant documentation and complete the form fully to be
considered. Please select which location you wish to be based at.
Once completed email or send your application to:
Apprenticeship Applications
Attention: Liz Scannell
HR Advisor
Broadcast Australia
PO BOX 1212
Crows Nest 1585
or
hr@broadcastaustralia.com.au
Additional Information
Download a PDF
•
Broadcast Technician Apprentice Position Description
•
Career path chart for Apprentices
If you need more information about the training program or the role, call Liz
Scannell from 02 8113 4723 or email hr@broadcastaustralia.com.au
A day in the life of a technician…
Name:
Chris Remington “Remo”
Job Title:
Broadcast Technician BT2
District:
Newcastle (formerly Canberra)
Time in role:
I think it is coming up for 5 years?? Time flies when you are having fun.
Biography:
I did not finish year 12 at school, but joined the Navy instead to become an electronics
technician looking after HMAS Newcastle’s Navigational radar for a few years. A couple
of Gulf Trips later and in between running a muck, I was a cert 4 electronics
technician. I enjoyed it but the Royal Australian Navy frowns upon sleep-walking and
so I was escorted off the premises. I stumbled around locally in Canberra for a while
trying to find my ‘niche’ job, until I came across the Broadcast Technician position I
now hold.
How did you arrive at your present job (academic and other influences):
Pretty sure it was by my own personal car - I didn’t have the keys to the work truck at
that stage.
What is your position now? Please describe what you do.
Being a Broadcast Technician is a very diverse job. We pretty much cover off all
aspects of the words BROADCAST and TECHNICIAN… from maintaining power and
program to the Transmitter Sites, to fault finding new and old transmitters, digital and
analogue, AM and FM radio, to investigating and resolving TV and Radio reception
complaints from the public.
Amount of time spent working daily (at site and office):
Generally it is an 8 hour day + On Call. The times are pretty flexible to our needs. I
would have to go with 50/50 site to office ratio…
How do you organize your day?
I try to prioritise the things that need to be done on a daily basis (I have found this is
easier with at least two jobs on my list). Because there are a few techs, these jobs can
be spread out comfortably amongst us, making life a little easier.
What inspires, motivates, or gets me excited about my job on a daily basis:
It’s all about the un-expected and diversity.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of applying for a job as a
Broadcast Technician at Broadcast Australia?
Why not?… They will train you up, feed you when you are away, and it sure beats
sitting in an office all day every day.
My hero, mentor, or person I most admire and why:
Michael Tuck! Old school Hawthorn legend.
A day in the life of a team leader…
Name: Ben Vaughan
Job Title: Field Services Team Leader (BT4)
District: Adelaide District
Time in role: 2 ½ years
Time at BA: 2 years
Biography:
After school leaving I completed Certificate 3 in Engineering – Electrical/Electronics
trade, this combined with previous secondary school Systems and Technology trade,
assisted me in deciding on a chosen career path in Broadcasting. I went on to serve 6
years with the Royal Australian Air Force as a Communications and Electronics
Technician and Rigger. My position with the RAAF saw me travel both domestically
and into South East Asia in various roles installing, operating and maintaining the
Australian Military HF Network. At the beginning of my time with the RAAF I was part
of an installation and refurbishment team responsible for the construction of new and
refurbishment of existing HF Antenna Systems. After three years my role changed and I
became involved with the Operations and Maintenance of the HF Transmitters and on
shift tasked as a Communications Systems Control Centre Operator/Technician
establishing and maintaining Tactical HF voice and data circuits. I discharged from the
RAAF in 2002 leaving Sydney and taking a contract position in Melbourne with BTS
Networks as a Broadcast Technician. In this position I was involved in the operations
and maintenance of what has now become the Broadcast Australia Network. I spent 2
years in this role before moving to Adelaide in a similar role with TVNZ, I became the
Adelaide District Field Services Team Leader in 2007.
How did you arrive at your present job (academic and other influences):
Growing up I enjoyed pulling stuff apart and making it better! Typically after a short
while I realized that most things I pulled apart to make better would probably have
lasted longer without the “making it better part”. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. This,
and 6 months of Electrical Engineering at University, as an active member in the
Brewers Union and dating nursing students, made me realize quickly I would make a
better Technician than Engineer. Another contributing factor, that I only realized after
I joined the RAAF, was the desire to be in control of my own destiny. So I took a deep
breath, closed my eyes, clicked my heel three times and here I am. On a more serious
note though I have always enjoyed electronics, climbing and the outdoors, team
orientated environments, travel, music, cinema and technology in general, put them
all together in a package and that is my job!
What is your position now? Please describe what you do:
As a Team Leader with Broadcast Australia Field Services in Adelaide, I, along with the
team, maintain a variety of transmission systems and associated infrastructure,
throughout South Australia and Broken Hill to meet our client’s contractual
requirements. Some of my responsibilities include assignment and completion of task
and project management, co-ordination of maintenance and fault correction activities
associated with complex transmission equipment and systems, support of my District
Supervisor, management of district contractors, contribution towards building and
maintaining a strong team spirit incorporating coaching and development of the
technicians.
Amount of time spent working daily (at site and office):
I guess 9-10 hours on an average day, up to 12 hours whilst involved in service
affecting activities, some of which may include project management, complex fault
management and planned maintenance activities.
How do you organize your day?
“I eat that Frog” sorry, it’s a silly metaphor I picked up recently. Basically I do my
best to prioritise the “hardest” or “least enjoyable” jobs early in the day, this gives
me something to look forward to later in the day and also a scene of achievement that
a particular job is out of the way. I have always worked this way, when I was a kid I
would eat the brussell sprouts first, then the broccoli, then the cauliflower………. You
get the picture
What inspires, motivates, or gets me excited about my job on a daily basis:
Knowing that no two days are going to be the same, I thrive on the immense diversity
in this job. One day I could be sitting at a desk driving a laptop stressing over KPI’s
then the next I am taking in the view at the top of a 170 metre tower overlooking the
Mt Lofty Ranges, waiting for my heart rate to come back from 200bpm of course,
appreciating the fact that I will have a week in the office to recover!
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of applying for a job as a
Broadcast Technician at Broadcast Australia?
Be sure you know what you want out of a career with Broadcast Australia and what
Broadcast Australia expects in return of you. A Broadcast Technicians job can be very
rewarding for the right person, but at the same time it is constantly challenging.
My hero, mentor, or person I most admire and why:
Cadel Evens, obviously I am a cyclist (mtb) and to say Lance Armstrong would be a
cliché. Cadel won the 1998 and 1999 Mountain bike world cup. .He is a great
ambassador for Australian cycling. Cadel is a small town Australian lad, typical Aussie
Battler I guess. He focused on what he wanted, set out to achieve it and for the most
part did. He has remained humble along the way and now despite all the obstacles
placed in his way of achieving a Tour De France win he remains optimistic. Cadel is the
same age me and has already achieved so much.
What I do to mentor those who work for me: (only for Team Leaders):
Throughout all I try to maintain a positive focus on remaining goal orientated,
contributing toward the strong positive moral of the Adelaide broadcast technicians
and the good name of the Adelaide district within the Broadcast Australia Network,
positive re-enforcement and encouragement for as job well done, be it from me, Paul
my supervisor or from other groups within Broadcast Australia is a great moral booster
for the team. I always do my best to support the technicians, be it making myself
available 24 hours a day for phone assistance or travelling to a site to assist in service
restoration activities.