Anyone looking for a job with a clear path to career progression, a great work-life balance and good banter should have a good look at local government, reckons Temora Shire Council Civil Construction Apprentices Martin Wood & Chace Sciascia.

Temora Shire Council Fresh Start Apprentices Martin Wood (left) and Chace Sciascia (right).

From left to right: Martin Wood (Apprentice), Steven Block (Delegate), Chace Sciascia (Apprentice).

Martin and Chace both secured their apprenticeships through the NSW State Government’s Fresh Start Apprentice and Trainee Program, which was fought for and secured by the mighty USU in 2024.

Martin applied for a Fresh Start apprenticeship after speaking to Steven Block, our workplace delegate at Temora Shire Council. With Steven’s encouragement, Martin applied for the job and the rest is history.

For Chace, it was seeing the apprenticeships advertised locally that put him on the path to a career in local government.

A few months into their apprenticeships, our two new members at Temora Shire Council are happy, settled, and confident they made the right career choice.

Both Martin and Chace see their apprenticeships as the first step towards their long term career goals – senior leadership at council. Helping them see their long term future at council is the clear and achievable pathways towards their goals.

These clear pathways to career progression and long term job security are one of the big advantages of a local council apprenticeship over other apprenticeship programs.

In addition to fitting in nicely with their long term career goals, Martin and Chace both value the variety in their day to day work – thanks to the enormous range of machinery and jobs they’re tasked with, no two days are the same.

Summing up his morning at Temora Depot, catching up with Chace, Martin and their workplace delegate, Steven Block, USU organiser for Temora Shire Council, Jason Mitchell said ‘It was nonstop laughs talking to these two characters [Chace & Martin]. The banter was strong, the jokes never stopped and it’s clear both apprentices are thriving’.

Welcome to local government, Chace and Martin and thank you to Steven Block, our hardworking delegate at Temora Shire Council.