NSW Skills for Net Zero for students

Access paid work experience through NSW Skills for Net Zero

NSW Skills for Net Zero (the initiative) aims to engage, match and connect talented tertiary students with paid internship opportunities at workplaces that are helping NSW to achieve net zero.

The initiative is open for students who are an Australian citizen or permanent resident currently residing in NSW and able to enter an employment contract. From engineers and scientists to accountants and policy advisors, the path to net zero spans all sectors.

NSW Skills for Net Zero is an opportunity for tertiary students from varied specialities and backgrounds to be paid to work on a real-world decarbonisation project. Participants will be mentored by industry experts and contribute to the transition to net zero in NSW.

The initiative is supporting graduates to transition into decarbonisation-focused jobs more readily after completing their studies to resource the workforce needs for a decarbonised future.

NSW Skills for Net Zero is proudly funded by the NSW Government and delivered by CSIRO.

Learn more about NSW Skills for Net Zero

The opportunity

NSW Skills for Net Zero provides tertiary students with practical, paid experience which can help them find their net zero job of the future. Participants will be mentored by industry experts and contribute to the transition to net zero in NSW.

As a student participant you can gain:

access to a minimum of 200 hours work experience
a minimum of $25 an hour + super with the security of a formal employment contract
an opportunity to participate in a real-world decarbonisation-related project
support from a dedicated CSIRO team for onboarding, completion and offboarding
a mentor/supervisor at a host workplace to provide meaningful support and training
workplace connections that could continue beyond your internship
an opportunity to promote your involvement in a high-profile initiative delivered by CSIRO and proudly funded by the NSW Government.

Eligibility

NSW Skills for Net Zero is designed for tertiary students who are passionate about making a difference and working towards net zero. Specific eligibility requirements include:

Applicants must be NSW-based* VET or university students in their penultimate or final year of study in a relevant qualification at Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Bachelor or Honors level with a credit-average or higher.
Applicants should not currently have an placement opportunity (paid or unpaid) with the host workplace.
Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents, currently residing in New South Wales* and able to enter an employment contract.

*Students residing in ACT, Victorian and Queensland cross border communities as defined by the NSW Office of the Cross-Border Commissioner may be considered for positions in close proximity to cross-border communities at the Department's discretion if no suitable NSW-based applicant can be found.

Accessible text only: NSW Skills for NetZero Guidelines DOCX (3 MB)

Please note

Guidelines may be updated, please check this webpage periodically to ensure you use the most recent version.

Download guidelines for more information

How to apply

Applying for NSW Skills for Net Zero is free and easy. Please submit an online application by clicking the below to be considered for placement opportunities. Applications can be for general opportunities or a specific placement.

Please read the guidelines document PDF (445 KB) for a full list of requirements before applying.

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Available Placements

Placement	Status
Code NZ015 - Project Support & Sustainability Internship (Identified role - Indigenous) - Macquarie Park	Open
Code NZ023 - Sustainability in Energy Consulting Internship - Warners Bay	Open
Code NZ024 - Solar PV Engineering Internship (UNSW STUDENTS ONLY) - Kensington	Open
Code NZ025 - Renewable Energy Engineering Internship - Waterloo	Open