Meter readers hit street

A new meter-reading program will provide employment for 12 Aboriginal Australians in remote Kimberley communities.

The Field Services Officers employment and training program is part of Horizon Power’s Aboriginal employment and engagement strategy and is designed to make its workforce more representative of its customer base.

The company hopes the change will improve engagement with and service delivery to Aboriginal Australians.

Trainees from Broome, Karratha, Kununurra, Port Hedland, Esperance, the Mid-West, Carnarvon and Perth are currently undertaking formal training and will begin providing the new service from July 1, 2012.

Last week, the trainees visited the remote Aboriginal community of Bidyadanga to read meters in the field and gain training experience.

Horizon Power’s customer service manager Greg Will said reading meters could be a challenge, particularly when coming up against customers’ protective domestic animals, so a comprehensive six-week training program had been delivered.