Vacation Program

Spend your summer with us and see what's possible. Our Vacation Program is your chance to work on real projects, learn from great people, and help create better outcomes for our communities and the environment.

We’re looking for curious minds who enjoy solving problems, thinking critically, and working with others. If you're just as comfortable diving into the detail as you are chatting with stakeholders, this program could be your next step.

Over 12 weeks, you'll help tackle some of Victoria's biggest challenges with the support of your mentor - from climate change and population growth to upgrading infrastructure and protecting our natural environment. You'll build skills, grow your professional network, and get a taste of what a career in the water industry can offer.

How it works

Explore the information below to see what your learning journey looks like, week by week.

Week 1 and 2

Orientation

• Meet your YVW Buddy and connect with your Mentor
• Get to know your team and the rest of your peers
• Learn key systems and processes so you're set up for success
• Get a feel for the learning journey ahead, understand our work and our purpose
• Complete induction activities in your direct team including optional site visits
• Commence self-paced learning modules
• Get a feel for some key business challenges and find a fit for your passions
• Kick off your Peer Learning Experience and your Challenge Project.

Week 3 and 4

Discovery

• Grow your skills in Workshop 1 (Systems Thinking and Business Challenge kick off)
• Move into exploration phase and build your curiousity and critical thinking
• Dive into self-paced learning modules
• Enjoy some festive-season celebrations across Yarra Valley Water
• Start to broaden your network across our business
• Explore ideas, tap into collective wisdom and challenge assumptions with your project group.

 

Week 5 and 6

Focus and problem solving

• Move through research and information gathering phases with your project group
• Continue through self-paced, peer and on-the-job learning milestones
• 1:1 check-in with your Mentor
• Get ready for Workshop 2 (Theory of Change and Challenge Concept Development)
• Exchange skills and strategies for moving through complexity
• Reflect on your learning journey to date and path forward.

Week 7 and 8

Action and project management

• Dive into project management through your Business Challenge
• Grow financial skills through budgeting and financial management
• Continue through self-paced, peer and on-the-job learning milestones
• Seek out additional field visit opportunities
• Actively deepen your networks across our business.

Week 9 and 10

Iteration and learning

• Understand our procurement processes and apply these to your Business Challenge 
• Continue having impact in your direct team
• Leverage your network across our business as you move towards the final phase of your learning experience
• Move through your final self-paced, peer and on-the-job learning milestones 
• Reflect at a personal level and capture learnings as a challenge team.

Week 11 and 12

Presentation & celebration

• Reflect with your Mentor in the final stage of your journey
• Complete the last of your learning milestones in your peer and challenge groups
• Prepare and present your Business Challenge solution to colleagues and senior stakeholders to share why your idea is a game-changer
• Time to celebrate with your team, cohort and broader peers.

Ready to see where a career in the water industry can take you? 

Applications for the 2026/27 Vacation Program will open in August 2026.