Trainee Waste Services

Through your work, you'll have a behind-the-scenes pass to Newcastle's evolution as you shape our future as a liveable, inclusive city.

City of Newcastle (CN) is offering a fantastic Traineeship opportunity in Waste and Commercial Collections for motivated individuals who are committed to developing their skills and building a rewarding career in the waste services industry.

As a Trainee, you'll work alongside experienced professionals and rotate through a variety of operational areas — from general waste and garden organics to bulk waste and bin maintenance — while completing a Certificate IV in Waste Management and obtaining your Heavy Rigid (HR) driver licence upon successful completion of your Traineeship. 

Find out more about your new career by viewing the position description here.

Life at City of Newcastle (CN)

You'll get to experience your work up close alongside the brilliant minds of your colleagues who care for one another and the region.

You'll chip away at ambitious plans with a talented, passionate crew alongside you, shaping the very fabric of our community. Showing up for neighbours not shareholders.

Every single day offers the chance to think big and act local. Planning and prioritising to achieve the most important outcomes with the community.

You'll add value in the moments that matter. From librarians to lifeguards, in a range of iconic places, we achieve a better Newcastle together.

Whether we're planning to host the Matildas, providing essential services or supporting creative artists, it's what we do when the cameras aren't rolling that matters most.

And we'll be there for you in important times in your life. We embrace flexible work arrangements to find a balance that allows us to enjoy the city we shape.

Our focus on inclusion and respecting culture, will help you feel a deeper connection with others. You'll connect with internal communities that will help you to feel a sense of belonging and reflect the diversity of the growing region.

You'll do meaningful work and do it sustainably as you take ideas from plan to play, in your own backyard.

With hundreds of different roles, each person adds their uniqueness to our culture and plays their part as we head towards our 2040 vision.

With natural assets and a focus on the environment, co-create a sustainable region with us.

Why join CN?

At CN, we value our employees, and their wellbeing takes priority. We encourage employees to make time for what's important and provide the benefits to enable a work life balance that allow us to enjoy the city we shape. To read more, visit here

• 38-hour working week with flexible/hybrid work arrangements/model as well as an optional 9-day fortnight

• 4 weeks of annual leave, 3 weeks of personal leave plus 2 additional paid public holidays

• 17.5% annual leave loading yearly payment

• Paid parental leave for primary carers

• Industry leading employment conditions

• Corporate Fitness program from as little as $12.90 per week

• Access to a range of exclusive CN employee benefits programs including Novated Lease options as well as access to reward and recognition vouchers

• Annual performance development plans and ongoing training and development opportunities

• Leading the CN Way leadership program

• Inclusion, Diversity & Equity (IDE) employee networks and initiatives

• Access to Health & Wellbeing programs including an Onsite Physiotherapist, Yoga and Mental Health Ambassador Groups

We champion inclusion so that everyone is valued, and we encourage innovation and creativity. We are committed to creating a safe and inclusive workplace where different styles, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, encouraged, and respected.

People with diverse lived experiences (including but not limited to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, people with diverse gender identities and sexualities, people from different cultural, racial, ethnic, religious and linguistic backgrounds, people with disability, carers, and veterans) are encouraged to apply.

Don't just work for the city, co-create it. Join and expand your career at the City of Newcastle.

What is next?

If you are successful in progressing to the next stage of our recruitment process:   

You will be required to attend 1 x group assessment centre for a 3-hour period between Tuesday 30th September - Thursday 2nd October 2025.

If you are successful in progressing to the next stage of the recruitment process after the assessment centre:

You will be required to complete a Pre-employment medical scheduled to take place on Tuesday 7th - Tuesday, 14th October 2025.

Application Closing Date: Wednesday 17th September 2025

Remuneration:  $37, % annual leave loading, yearly payment + 12% Superannuation per annum for a 38-hour week

Contact: If you require further information, please refer to our FAQ'S sheet here and or, send an email to our team via

If you need any adjustments to be made to the recruitment process or if you would like to discuss any accessibility requirements, please contact for a confidential discussion.

You must have the right to live and work in Australia to apply for this job.

CN do not accept unsolicited resumes, and we respectfully ask that recruitment agencies do not contact us at this stage.