Each year, Viva Energy recruits a number of interns to spend 12 weeks working across different parts of our business. For the 2018/19 program around half of that intake will be through CareerTrackers, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to build skills and develop job opportunities for Indigenous university students around Australia.
Founded in 2009, CareerTrackers leverages the successful 48-year legacy of the US-based INROADS internship program which works with students from a range of ethnic backgrounds. Adapting the model to promote Indigenous advantage and opportunities here in Australia, Career Trackers works closely with its corporate partners to improve graduate employment outcomes for its participants.
The results testify to the effectiveness of such work. Those interning with CareerTrackers show graduation rates of 89 percent compared to a national graduation rate for Indigenous Australians of around 47 percent. Additionally, 95 percent of CareerTrackers alumni moved into full-time employment within three months, against 69 percent of Australian university students.
Viva Energy has partnered with CareerTrackers since early 2015 as part of our Indigenous Participation Plan (IPP), a major component of our Community Program which has at its core our desire to drive positive social change.
Talia Ritson of CareerTrackers cites the mutual value of the relationship.
“Viva Energy offers quite unique opportunities across different areas that students have been able to experience, as well as supporting the intern cohort by hosting student networking events at their Docklands office,” she says.
“They’ve been really great, going above and beyond what a general partnership offers,” Talia continues. “Particularly for students from a STEM background, Viva Energy’s capacity to place interns in a variety of roles, from the office to the refinery and technical roles across different disciplines, really stands out.”
Recognising potential
Grace Jennings, a recent alumna, perfectly illustrates the value of the program. Growing up in the Huon Valley, this University of Tasmania valedictorian found out about CareerTrackers through her cousin, now a Sydney-based lawyer.
Working through a Bachelor of Business, double-majoring in Marketing and Human Resource Management, Grace immediately leapt at the chance.
“I wanted to experience a career in marketing, and also to live in Melbourne,” she says. “But I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do until I’d actually tried it. It was important that I got to experience it before moving my whole life to a different State.”
Having studied employer branding and employee engagement at length as part of her Honours’ research degree, Grace was drawn to Viva Energy’s emphasis on empowering its people to succeed.
“I basically went on to the website and found Viva Energy’s blog called Driven,” says Grace, “and could see articles about Viva’s people, and the things the company does for its employees.”
“I really wanted to work for an organisation that cared about their employees,” Grace recalls. “I was given a number of organisations to look at, and through my research I felt Viva aligned with my values the most.”
Bridging Bass Strait
CareerTrackers also helped bridge the gap between pursuing a role and career path on the mainland rather than Tasmania.
“Coming from Tasmania it’s harder to get opportunities in Melbourne. You don’t have those connections. With CareerTrackers you get a chance to show who you are, show how you work, and it just gave me the opportunity to leave an impression with Viva.”
Grace completed two internships with Viva Energy as part of the Shell Card marketing team. “It was invaluable for me,” she recalls. “I didn’t feel like an intern, I just really felt part of the team.”
“The team made sure I experienced a number of areas in marketing. I had real projects like developing collateral for the sales team which is still being used, which is exciting to see.”
A future full of possibility
Grace has since completed her Honours degree and has become a part of the Viva family after accepting a full-time permanent position as a Marketing Coordinator, supporting our specialties businesses that span the Aviation, Bitumen, Chemicals and Marine sectors.
“I started at the same time that we were rolling out Viva Energy Aviation to our customers, which was a really exciting time,” she says of her experience thus far. “That gave me the opportunity to go to different areas of Australia to launch the brand with customers, so I got to do some travel in my first few months.”
“I feel really fortunate to be part of and supporting four different teams,” she continues. “I get the chance to address different needs within each team and the commercial team as a whole. It’s exciting because these teams show our various businesses and our offering as a company and I get to communicate that.”
Grace values her experience with CareerTrackers, and is excited by what awaits her at Viva Energy. “I have professional development, networking opportunities and a support network from CareerTrackers. And I know that if I wanted to utilise the HR side of my degree or develop in a different area, Viva would support me with that.”
When asked what advice she could offer aspiring undergraduates, Grace says to get proactive about interning opportunities. “Do it! It’s scary, yes, but the experience is just so valuable. The earlier you do it, the more experience you can get,” she advises. “And if you don’t have an opportunity to intern through CareersTrackers, universities often offer internships as part of your degree.”
Want to know more about a career at Viva Energy? Explore your opportunities here. Or, learn more about Viva Energy’s Indigenous Participation Plan to support indigenous communities here.