School Infrastructure, the NSW Department of Education’s arm that builds, maintains and upgrades schools, is looking for recent school leavers and young people studying construction or project management to join the team.

The trainee and cadet pathways program is designed to build the foundational technical and workplace skills needed to support career development. Learners will benefit from paid mentorship opportunities and hands-on experience in the planning, delivery, maintenance and community use of public schools.

Positions are available in School Infrastructure’s asset management units (AMUs) which are based across the state, including in Sydney, Lismore, Dubbo, Wollongong and Orange.

As part of the program, learners can balance work with study as they take 1-2 days a week to attend classes towards their diplomas, certifications or degrees.

The paid, two-year program offers learners career pathways into School Infrastructure, the NSW Department of Education and government as a whole.

Tareq Asad commenced with the program as a 2023 cadet working in the infrastructure delivery and building space.

“What I found valuable about the cadet program was the mentorship: having an experienced professional leading your career development, guiding you and ensuring that you contribute to meaningful work.” Tareq said.

Now working as a project management office coordinator at the NSW Department of Education’s Information and Technology Directorate, Tareq credits his cadetship with arming him with experience and teaching him valuable skills in leadership and critical thinking.

"I am currently working on one of the largest technical upgrade projects within the department. I know if it was not for the foundational skills and confidence I gained from the cadet program, what I have been able to achieve today would have been a far greater challenge.”

Last year, Holly Laverick joined the program and credits it with successfully pivoting her career due to its flexibility in balancing work as a cadet and study for her Diploma of Project Management.

“Opportunities like that don’t come along often: a chance to step into something new, to challenge yourself, and to grow in ways you didn’t expect,” Holly said. “Balancing deadlines, exams, and full-time professional responsibilities required discipline, resilience, and sacrifice.”

“Being part of the cadet program was different. It acknowledged that learning is not separate from work, it is part of it. Having hands-on experience allowed me to properly absorb what I was learning and apply it in real time, rather than simply trying to survive both commitments.”

For Jack Humphreys, who is working as a Cadet Support Officer in the AMU, working front of house for School Infrastructure has meant liaising with school principals and contractors, as well as visiting construction sites.

“I’m six months into the cadetship and am loving the work that I'm doing,” Jack said. “I started out in a traineeship, which gave me the opportunity to work for and make connections with School Infrastructure.”

To other young people thinking about their future careers, Jack said taking the initiative to apply could open up opportunities.

“Take the dive. Believe in yourself and go for it,” he said. “You'll never know what you can achieve unless you put yourself out there.”

By investing in early-career pathways, School Infrastructure is fostering talent and creating a strong pipeline of skilled professionals able to work in the booming building and construction sector.

Applications for the July intake of the 2026 School Infrastructure Cadet and Trainee program are closing on 6 April. You can learn more by visiting School Infrastructure traineeship and cadetship pathways.