Kick-start your career with council’s academic bursary

The program offers university students the chance to gain valuable work experience and financial assistance.

Council has five academic bursaries up for grabs, worth $5000 each, plus paid work experience with a council team that aligns with your area of study.

Mayor Greg Williamson said council hoped by offering these bursaries we would be able to retain these professionals in the Mackay region.

“Mackay is a great place to live and work and the academic bursary program gives students a taste of what it’s like to work in their chosen field and the opportunity to make great work connections,” Mayor Williamson said.

2019 Academic Bursary recipient Brodie French, who studied a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical), has gone on to work full time for council as a graduate engineer in the Water and Sewerage Infrastructure Planning department.

“While working with the Water and Sewerage Infrastructure Planning team over the last two years, I’ve gained an appreciation for the work that goes into making sure our community has quality drinking water and sustainable sewerage networks in the near and distant future,” Mr French said.

“The bursary allowed me to fund equipment for my final year engineering thesis and help with other on-going university costs, and the work experience gave me an on-the-ground perspective of how my studies were translated into the real world,” he said.

Applications for this year’s Academic Bursaries are currently open and close on Monday, April 4.

To be eligible for a council bursary, students must be from the Mackay region – preferably studying in the region – and in their second-last year of studies.

They must also be studying in a skills shortage area including:

• Engineering
• Planning
• Business (Accounting/Marketing/HR/Public Relations/Social Innovation)
• Business Services (IS, Procurement, Projects)
• Workplace Health and Safety/Emergency Services, Social Work or Environmental Science/Health.

To apply, visit council's website and for more details contact the Recruitment Team on jobs@mackay.qld.gov.au or 1300 MACKAY (622 529).