Western Power

👋 Say hello to the future innovators of engineering in energy!   Last week, we hosted 20 students from Curtin University on a guided tour of our Southern Terminal to give them some first-hand insights into network operations.   Guided by Carla Basden, Julian Orozco, Michael Lam and Ashley Groeneweg, who shared their career journeys along the way, the students learnt about a range of topics, including asset management, engineering and design, and our customer decarbonisation goals.   Many thanks to IEEE Curtin University Student Branch and to each student for your enthusiasm on the day.   To find out more about our opportunities for students and graduates, click here: https://bit.ly/47hKCFG   #students #graduates #engineering #engineeringinenergy

For the fourth year running, we're proud to support greater educational and employment outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school students through our partnerships with Clontarf Foundation and Waalitj Foundation. The renewed partnerships involve creating exciting entry-level pathways for students, and we're thrilled to have so far welcomed 10 students to Western Power as lineworkers, automotive mechanics, electricians and business trainees. "We're seeing positive and productive outcomes all round - for students, our employees and the community," says Western Power's Executive Manager People Jo Christie. "We're looking forward to further expanding and developing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment journeys together." These significant partnerships are part our commitment to building strong, respectful and mutually beneficial relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To find out more, visit: https://bit.ly/3UcfByD #partnership #education #employment

Western Power is inviting registrations of interest from suitably qualified and experienced organisations to provide emergency response generator services. For more information, please see the following webpage and register by 2pm AWST Friday 18 October 2024: https://bit.ly/4d8Qcwb

Prototype for a substation video game? This snapshot simulation is actually a peek into a large-scale project to 3D map our transmission substations to support network safety and operations. Led by Daniel Tang and Julian Orozco in our Asset Performance team, the project uses 3D visualisation technology to create detailed representations of substation assets and danger zones around live electrical equipment. "Safety is a major benefit with this technology," says Julian, "as it allows us to minimise travel time and reduce exposure to substation hazards." It's been a huge effort on behalf of the project team, who pitched the idea to the Investment Innovation Fund in October 2022. "In any given project, innovation has its challenges," reflects Julian, "but the support from management and the Innovation Investment Fund team has been incredible. We couldn't have done it without them." Now, their project is gaining recognition and was recently selected as a finalist in the category of "Best solution to a work health and safety risk" for the Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards 2024. Congratulations to Julian, Daniel, Mike Elms, Sam Potter, Marc Diffen and their teams for this achievement! We're proud to see our people pursue innovation that supports our commitment to safety across network operations. #innovation #3Dmapping #safety #awards

Western Power is inviting registrations of interest from suitably qualified and experienced organisations capable of supplying and delivering capacitor banks and damping reactors. For further information, please see the following webpage and register your interest by 1pm AWST Friday 27 September 2024: https://bit.ly/3Znojxh

In the lead up to yesterday's R U OK? Day, our people have been coming together in more than 40 mental health and wellbeing sessions across our office and depot locations as part of our commitment to psychosocial safety. Organised by our Health team in partnership with HelpingMinds, the sessions give an insight into the signs and symptoms of mental illness and how to support loved ones and colleagues during tough times. "Fostering how we care for one another and how our business cares for its people are of the utmost importance, whether it be physical or psychosocial safety," says our CEO Sam Barbaro. “As part of this commitment, we have a range of resources and protections in place to support our people, including mental health first aiders across the business, a critical incident response process to support teams who respond to serious injury and fatalities, and robust assessments for high-risk cohorts to understand psychosocial hazards and to implement controls.” "This year, we have more R U OK? sessions than ever before. I feel proud to see the growing participation across the business and the importance teams place on supporting each other." With further sessions planned for the coming weeks, we thank everyone who has been willing to participate so far and for supporting the organisation's efforts to create a safe and caring workplace culture. #RUOKDay #RUOK #mentalhealth #pyschosocialsafety

📣 We're pleased to announce a new program aimed at improving regional power reliability for local communities. The $88 million Regional Connect Program will help us identify alternative solutions in areas of the network at the end of long feeder lines where communities experience reliability challenges. We understand the inconvenience frequent and prolonged outages can cause regional communities and that's why we're partnering with impacted communities to better understand their felt experience and identify and develop effective solutions. Trials are being undertaken in several regional areas as part of the program. To find out more, read our media statement here: https://bit.ly/4d2nqgy #powerreliability #regionalconnect #anetworkforlife #networkforlife

Western Power is inviting expressions of interest from NCESS providers to deliver network support services at up to five metropolitan locations. Five distribution feeders have been selected based on Western Power's assessment of their underlying needs, technical requirements, and the potential for a viable non-network solution. For further information, please visit the following webpage and submit your proposal by 5pm AWST Monday 7 October 2024: https://bit.ly/3Xmkea0

📣 Read the latest from our Social Performance and Approvals Manager, Margot Hammond, who attended the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Australasia 'Innovate to Elevate' conference in Sydney. Margot joined fellow engagement specialists to discuss how organisations in the energy sector can elevate their engagement strategy and standards as they navigate complex social challenges. Thanks for sharing your insights, Margot! #IAP2Australasia #socialperformance #conference

👏 A big congratulations to the teams involved in achieving this outstanding recognition! We're proud to have not one but two projects selected as a category finalist. Well done to the project teams for 'Live work justification tool' and 'Enhancing safety in hazardous high voltage environments through 3D visualisation technology'. The live work tool enables our teams to assess the risks of carrying out works under energised conditions against the risks of works under de-energised conditions. This results in a more consistent approach to risk assessments when it comes to conducting live work. For the 3D visualisation project, network substations are scanned using drones and 3D scanners to create digital models. The detailed 3D substation allows teams to project invisible dangers as distinct hazard zones before they visit live assets, which reduces the risks of accidents and creates a safer working environment. We're proud to see our people demonstrate innovation and collaboration as part of our commitment to safety across network operations. #WHSEA2024 #safety #awards #finalist