Essential Service Operators:
Role Models and Business
Opportunities
Presenter: Lee Morgan
Remote Operations (South)
Remote Operations
Our services include:
• Deliver an adequate and reliable
supply of safe drinking water
• Provide an adequate and reliable
electricity supply
• Manage energy and water services in a sustainable
way
• Provide a safe and constructive workplace.
Essential Service Operators
• Essential Service Operators (ESOs) keep vital
services such as power, water and sewerage
operational in 72 remote communities across the
Territory.
• The job is very important and an ESO is required to
communicate effectively and conduct themselves
professionally and safely.
• The job will provide development and training
opportunities to encourage growth and learning.
Indigenous Employment
Why focus on Indigenous Employment?
• Effective asset management including repair and
maintenance programs
• Commitment by Northern Territory and Power and
Water towards regional development and Indigenous
employment and training
• Local Employment
• Role model for employment in the community
• Local jobs for local people
• Reliable and equitable services to Territory funded
Indigenous communities
•
.
Essential Service Operators
ESOs are located in 72
Communities across the
Northern Territory
Power and Water requires capable
ESOs to provide day to day power,
water and wastewater services
through:
• Employment contracts managed by
Shires and private Contractors
• Power and Water contracts require
Indigenous employment
Essential Service Operators
ESO Prerequisites:
•
•
•
•
Numeracy and Literacy
White card
Induction
Training (familiarisation course and on-site
mentoring)
• Trade Certificate; or Training Certificate II or III
And a career path…………
Essential Service Operators
Trainee
Base Grade ESO
Advanced ESO
Essential Services
Supervisor
White card
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes - implemented
Site inductions
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes - and able to provide
Power Water induction
On-site Training
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes - and able to provide
training
Mentor
Unable
Limited mentoring ability
Some mentoring
capacity
Able to mentor ESOs and
Trainees
Prerequisite
qualifications
No
Must have completed:
Must have:
Must have:
 Power and Water
familiarisation training
and 12 months on the
job experience; or
 A trade qualification as
an electrician,
mechanic, fitter or
plumber; or
 Undertaking the Cert II
in electro-technology.
 Met requirements of
Base Grade ESO
Qualifications;
 Cert II (or trade)
qualification or
working towards a
Cert III qualification;
 Completed specialised
training.
 Met requirements of
Advanced Grade ESO
qualifications;
 Cert II and III
qualification;
 Specialised skills in
training people;
 Specialised Safety
training qualification.
Indigenous Employment
Key Deliverables:
2010-11:
• 37% Indigenous employment ratio
(compared to total employed of 131)
• 39 North, 29 Mid NT and 63 Central Australia
2011-12:
• 40% Indigenous employment
• Increase to 60% over a 5 year time frame
• At least 50% with Certificate II or III qualifications
Remote Operations
The way forward…
• Increase Indigenous employment to 60% over a five
year time frame
• Improve skill levels with formal qualifications
• Improve supervision of ESOs with mentoring and on
site skills development
• Increase standards of service expectations and safety
• Improve infrastructure (solar sites, LPG
supplementation and water treatment
• Other benefits…...
NT Model ESO Training:
Apprenticeship Program
Trainee Program
Establish Stakeholder base
• Shires
• Power and Water Corporation
• Mining Organisations
• Contractors
• Other states
Encourage partnership
with private organisations
Establish ‘pool’ of resources for access
by the Shires and mining organisations
• Provide Cert. II Course
in Electro-Technology
via trainee course or
block release
• Develop and provide
Certificate III course
Summary
Power and Water’s ESO Program targets to increase
Indigenous employment and training, which includes:
• Emphasis on career path with training requirements
• Cooperation with educational and training institutions
together with ESO employers (Shires)
• Role model benefits
• Future partnerships:
 Local Indigenous organisations
 Private Contractors
 Mining Sector
Thank You