Final round open for NSW Public Sector apprentice and trainee program

Applications can be submitted for the final round of the NSW Government’s 1,000 Public Sector Apprentices and Trainees Program, which aims to employ an additional 1,000 apprentices and trainees across government agencies and state-owned corporations. Round 3 will support new roles while offering jobseekers the opportunity to earn while they learn and gain nationally recognised qualifications across a range of occupational areas.

The program provides participants with practical, on-the-job experience, structured training and mentoring from experienced professionals, helping them build skills and establish careers within the public sector. It also offers agencies a valuable pathway to attract and develop new talent to meet current and emerging workforce needs.

As the final intake under the current initiative, the program forms part of broader efforts to strengthen workforce capability, address skills shortages and promote apprenticeships and traineeships as a sustainable recruitment pathway across the NSW public sector.

If you are seeking an apprentice or trainee opportunity in the NSW public sector, please

Submit an expression of interest application

Visit NSW Government Apprentices and Trainees to find more information about how hiring trainees and apprentices can increase equity and alternative pathways into the NSW public sector.

Nominations open for the 2026 NSW Training Awards

Nominations are now open for the 2026 NSW Training Awards, recognising excellence across vocational education and training (VET) in NSW and celebrating the achievements of learners, employers, trainers and training providers driving workforce capability and skills development.

Organisations and employers are encouraged to nominate in the following categories: Industry Collaboration; Small & Large Employer of the Year; Small & Large Training Provider of the Year; and two new categories – Disability Inclusion in the VET Sector and Outstanding Achievement in the VET and Skills Sector.

The awards provide a valuable opportunity to showcase innovation, partnership and inclusive workforce practices across the VET sector.

NSW was well represented at the 2025 Australian Training Awards, with Penelope Mackay from the Riverina named VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year, highlighting the strength of vocational education and training across the state.

Check the eligibility and selection criteria on the NSW Training Awards website.

Growing data centre demand raises concerns for urban water supply

Australia’s rapid expansion of data centres, driven by increased digital and artificial intelligence capability, is expected to significantly increase demand for water, prompting renewed focus on sustainable water planning. With more than 250 data centres already operating across the nation, and further growth planned, experts warn that reliance on drinking water to cool servers could place additional pressure on already constrained urban water supplies.

Data centres require substantial water for cooling, with a single one-megawatt facility using up to 25.5 million litres annually. Larger hyperscale facilities used for AI can consume significantly more, and projections suggest data centres could account for up to a quarter of Sydney’s drinking water use by the end of the decade. In Melbourne, water authorities are already assessing multiple proposals that together could require water volumes comparable to the needs of hundreds of thousands of households.

In response, water sector specialists are highlighting the importance of long-term planning, including locating data centres near wastewater treatment plants and increasing the use of recycled water. This approach could help protect drinking water supplies while supporting continued digital infrastructure growth. The issue highlights the growing interdependence between digital infrastructure and essential water services, with implications for future water resource management, infrastructure planning and workforce capability in the urban water sector.

Read the full ABC article here.

New and upgraded facilities to strengthen RFS volunteer capability

Work is progressing on a major infrastructure program to enhance the operational capability of NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers and improve emergency coordination across regional communities. More than $34.5 million has been allocated this year to support the development of 28 new or upgraded bush fire and emergency facilities, including six new Fire Control and Emergency Operations Centres and 18 new rural fire brigade stations.

New emergency operations centres are under construction in Cooma, Clarence Valley and Namoi-Gwydir, with additional sites planned for Eurobodalla, Tumut and Hawkesbury. A new brigade complex is also being planned at Brewarrina to better support remote firefighting operations. These centres will play a key role in coordinating responses to bushfires and other emergencies such as floods and storms.

In addition, new and improved brigade stations across locations including the Hawkesbury, South Coast, Central Coast and Riverina will provide volunteers with modern facilities and improved amenities. Delivered in partnership with local councils, the program is designed to strengthen emergency response capability, support volunteer firefighters and ensure communities are better prepared to manage future natural disasters.

Read the full article at NSW Rural Fire Service.

National review launched to improve worker mobility across borders

The Australian Government has appointed leading competition and productivity experts to revitalise the National Competition Council, including Marcus Bezzi as President, alongside Catherine Dermody, Dr Craig Emerson and Sally McMahon as councillors. As part of this renewed role, the Council will undertake its first major independent evaluation in more than 20 years, focusing on improving Australia’s occupational licensing and mutual recognition systems.

The review will examine how current arrangements support licensed workers—such as those in electrical and engineering trades—to work across state and territory borders without unnecessary delays, costs or duplicate licensing. The evaluation aims to identify opportunities to reduce red tape, strengthen labour mobility and improve workforce flexibility while maintaining professional standards.

Findings will be reported to the Council on Federal Financial Relations in July 2026 and will inform national reforms to create a more seamless labour market. The initiative is expected to support productivity, help workers move to where they are most needed, and make it easier for businesses to access skilled labour across Australia.

Find more information on the DEWR website.