Building capability through WALGA’s Certificate III Traineeship

Building capability through WALGA’s Certificate III Traineeship. A strategic approach to workforce development. 

Sienna Smith, Town of Mosman Park – Shares her training story. 

The Town of Mosman Park has adopted a proactive approach to workforce development by investing in structured traineeship programs. This strategy not only addresses immediate operational needs but also contributes to long-term capability building across the organisation. 

When a vacancy arose in the Customer Service team, the Town’s People and Culture department restructured the role into a traineeship opportunity. The position was designed to rotate across multiple teams, providing the trainee with broad exposure to Local Government operations.  

This initiative led to the appointment of a full-time trainee, Sienna Smith. 

“I graduated from high school at the end of 2023, and like many teenagers, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.” 

“I decided that gaining some real work experience would be a great first step in my career,” said Sienna. 

In September 2024, Sienna undertook WALGA’s Certificate III in Local Government and applied her learning as an Admin Assistance Trainee at the Town of Mosman Park.  

“The assessments were thoughtfully tailored to reflect real and important aspects of Local Government. In fact, several of my assessment tasks allowed me to contribute to process improvements,” said Sienna. 

WALGA’s virtual classroom delivery model, combined with interactive teamwork sessions and strong trainer support, enhanced engagement and workplace relevance. 

“The traineeship itself was not what I expected, but in the best way possible. Rather than being limited to just one area, like Customer Service, Mosman Park gave the opportunity to rotate through multiple departments, depending on the unit I was working on,” said Sienna. 

“I’m incredibly proud of how far I’ve come in such a short time. The traineeship, supported by WALGA and organised by the Town of Mosman Park, has opened doors I never imagined and helped me discover a career path I’m genuinely passionate about.” 

On top of offering Sienna a permanent position before her traineeship ended, the Town of Mosman Park made a commitment to offer formal education pathways and have created three traineeship opportunities over the past 10 months. 

Guylaine Thibodeau, People and Culture officer at the Town of Mosman Park, said “if you’re thinking about a traineeship but unsure where to begin, just start with your own team. Lead by example. That first step can shift perceptions and open the door to new talent and new possibilities.”  

October intakes are now open for WALGA’s Certificate III in Local Government, click here to find out more.