At the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (LGIRS), we understand the importance of giving our future generation opportunities to learn and experience the workforce. The department has several initiatives to recruit and retain young people, setting them up with the skills and knowledge to support a future career in the public sector.
One initiative is our partnership with the McCusker Centre for Citizenship, which provides students from the University of Western Australia (UWA) the opportunity to contribute towards a project in a community-minded organisation. Thirteen UWA first semester interns are currently working at LGIRS, such as Maya, who is placed within our Consumer Protection division.
Pursuing a career in law, Maya’s recent project is working on a podcast with a junior lawyer about one of her most recent successful cases. “This internship gives me the opportunity to make consumer law accessible to the general public,” she says.
“Our clients are central to our work,” she continues. “I have met so many interesting and driven people, which motivates me even more to do my part within consumer protection and my future career.”
In addition, the department provides an 18-month graduate program that equips graduates with the essential skills, experience, and networks needed for a successful career in the public sector. One of these graduates is Abdul, a Graduate Dangerous Goods Officer within the WorkSafe Group.
“One of the biggest learnings has been understanding how regulation works in practice. I’ve had great opportunities to learn from experienced colleagues, build technical knowledge, and see how our work directly contributes to community safety,” Abdul said.
“The work aligns strongly with my values – it’s about protecting people and the environment while working constructively with industry. I can definitely see myself building a long-term career in this space.”
We also partner with the Public Sector Commission’s School Based Traineeship Program, where trainees gain paid experience working part time in a government agency, learning valuable workplace skills while finishing Years 11 and 12.
Charlotte, who works in the Office of the Director General, has enjoyed learning about what the department does and the community we serve and is aware the experience will open doors after graduation.
“The traineeship has been a great opportunity so far. Although I’m not sure what I want to do as a future career, I see it as an early entry into the workforce after high school. This type of experience can help put me ahead in whatever it is I want to do.”
It’s great to see our young professionals flourish and grow within their early career, each working towards having a meaningful and positive impact on the Western Australian community.
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