{"id":22564,"date":"2024-12-03T19:15:39","date_gmt":"2024-12-03T09:15:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/?p=22564"},"modified":"2024-12-05T13:46:48","modified_gmt":"2024-12-05T03:46:48","slug":"eraring-workers-future-directions-journeys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/eraring-workers-future-directions-journeys\/","title":{"rendered":"Eraring workers share their Future Directions&nbsp;journeys"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As Eraring Power Station prepares for retirement, our Future Directions program is here to support employees through every step of the transition. From career planning to new skills training, hear how some of our team members are making the most of this opportunity to shape their next chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/about\/who-we-are\/what-we-do\/generation\/eraring-power-station\/\">Eraring Power Station<\/a>, more than 200 Origin employees\u2014and just as many contractors\u2014are hard at work keeping everything running smoothly. Engineers, electricians, operators, project managers, and technicians all bring their unique skills to this 40-year-old site, with some team members having been here for decades. As we prepare to retire Australia\u2019s largest power station by mid-2027, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/eraring-future-directions-program\/\">Future Directions program<\/a> is in full swing, offering personalised support to help our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/eraring-future-directions-program\/\">Eraring team<\/a> transition confidently into their next career steps. With over 98% of employees actively engaged in the program, we recently sat down with some of them to hear about their experiences, the opportunities the program has created, and how it&#8217;s setting them up for the future.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Andrew G &#8211; Overhaul Manager<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Andrew&#039;s Future Directions journey\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/w4Rv4mOBoJs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been a Newcastle local for years, so having a job at a power station close to family and friends was always a big plus. I started my apprenticeship as a Fitter Machinist in 2015, back when Eraring was set to close in 2032. But with the accelerated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/helping-accelerate-the-energy-transition\/\">transition to renewable energy<\/a>, that date got moved up to as early as mid-2027. At first, it was disappointing\u2014I love the work here, the challenges, and the people I work with. I\u2019d hoped to stay longer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over time, though, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/eraring-future-directions-program\/\">Future Directions program<\/a> really opened my eyes to the career options out there for skilled workers like me. It&#8217;s reassuring to see Origin being proactive, providing everything from upskilling opportunities to financial and mental health support during this transition. The program has even introduced us to employers in industries like defence and manufacturing, where, as it turns out, the skills we&#8217;ve developed at Eraring are highly valued. I\u2019ve realised that with the right training and support, I&#8217;ll be ready for whatever comes next, whether that&#8217;s with Origin or somewhere new.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shannon L &#8211; Production Coordinator<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Shannon&#039;s Future Directions journey\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ovvSbO9J_1g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I\u2019m a Production Coordinator, a role I\u2019ve been in at Eraring for 13 years, but my journey in energy generation actually started 35 years ago. I began as an apprentice mechanical fitter in 1990 at Wallerawang Power Station, and I always thought I\u2019d finish my career in the power industry. So, when we learned that Eraring would be closing early, I had to adjust my mindset\u2014I wasn\u2019t ready to retire so it was time to start planning for a new career. That\u2019s when I started considering running my own business doing property maintenance. I had the opportunity to try it out and it really got me thinking about making this a serious option.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the support of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/eraring-future-directions-program\/\">Future Directions<\/a>, I began balancing my regular job with building up my &nbsp;side business, working for clients outside of regular work hours. Future Directions provided advice and connected me with professionals who helped me learn the ropes of running a business and even assisted me in taking relevant courses. Before long, the business was rolling along nicely, with enough demand that I even brought on subcontractors to keep up with the workload. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the plant\u2019s closure date was adjusted again from 2025 to 2027, I decided to scale back the business a bit to focus on my duties at Eraring, keeping it going in the background so I can ramp it up again when the time comes. Thanks to Future Directions, I\u2019m going into this transition with a lot less anxiety and a lot more confidence. It\u2019s reassuring to know I\u2019ll have something solid to carry me through until retirement, and that\u2019s worth a lot.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Daniel M &#8211; I&amp;C Maintenance Lead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Daniel&#039;s Future Directions journey\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1MAN4aMwYR0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve always had an interest in technical things\u2014cars, machines, et cetera. After high school, I landed a four-year apprenticeship as an electrician at Eraring Power Station in 1999, and I\u2019ve worked here ever since. Now, as the Instrumentation and Control Maintenance Team Lead, I was caught off guard a bit when we learned about the earlier &nbsp;retirement date for Eraring. There was a lot to process\u2014surprise, disappointment, even a bit of worry about what comes next.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/eraring-future-directions-program\/\">Future Directions program<\/a> provided crucial support after the announcement. It began with career counselling, helping us explore future options and identify training to strengthen our prospects. This guidance was invaluable, particularly for long-term employees like myself, as it offered a clearer view of our next steps. Additionally, mental health resources were available, helping many to manage the transition more smoothly.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>For me, the goal is to stay in my field; I enjoy the work and want to build on what I\u2019ve accomplished. Through Future Directions, I took additional courses to strengthen my skills and boost my employability. I\u2019m optimistic about the future now, feeling prepared to stay on until Eraring\u2019s closure and confident that I\u2019ll have the skills needed to continue in the industry.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/about\/who-we-are\/what-we-do\/generation\/eraring-power-station\/\">Keep up to date with Eraring news<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As Eraring Power Station prepares for retirement, out Future Directions program is supporting employees through the&nbsp;transition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":22571,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[107],"tags":[42,90],"oe_author":[],"class_list":["post-22564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-and-people","tag-careers","tag-eraring"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22564","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22564"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22564\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22564"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22564"},{"taxonomy":"oe_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oe_author?post=22564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}