Trainee clicks with a career in technology

An Aqwest trainee has won the 2020 Trainee of the Year award at the Apprentice Employment Network WA 2020 Awards of Excellence.

Joel Hartmann started a Certificate III in information, digital media and technology traineeship at Aqwest in February through the Apprentice and Traineeship Company in Bunbury.

The 18-year-old has always been passionate about computers and IT and prior to joining Aqwest, worked with a friend to build their own computer.

“Figuring out that I enjoy IT was probably one of my biggest accomplishments once I finished school because I had no idea what I wanted to do,” Mr Hartmann said.

“Looking back to what I have learned in the past six months blows my mind.”

The awards, held at Burswood on Swan last weekend, recognise outstanding achievements in the vocational education and training sector.

Mr Hartmann’s first job was to help technical support officer Kieran Treloar with the installation of IT at Aqwest’s new water treatment plant, Ngoora Moolinap, in Glen Iris.

As the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Mr Hartmann helped Mr Treloar with the rapid re-deployment of Aqwest staff to work from home, procuring and setting up equipment and teleconferencing technology.

“It was unbelievable to be awarded with this, it felt like finally something I had been working so hard on paid off,” he said.

“Not only is Aqwest a great working environment but it’s also super exciting, I’ve been able to do and experience things I never thought I would be a part of.

“If I could give my high school self any advice it would be to experiment with things for fun, if something breaks, work out how to fix it, even if you can’t you’re still learning.

“Always be looking for opportunities and if there’s an open door just go for it, there are only positives that can come from it.”