A BlueScope Cadetship lets you study while gaining real experience at our Port Kembla Steelworks. The work here supports the materials and products used in homes, hospitals, bridges, stadiums, renewable industries and critical infrastructure.

Combining part-time study with paid, hands-on work, the program gives you a practical start. You’ll be part of the work, learning from experienced people and seeing how what you study plays out on site.

Cadetship pathways

Each pathway gives you exposure to a different part of the business, but the way you learn stays consistent. You’ll learn through real work, alongside people who know their craft. When you apply, you can nominate more than one pathway.

Opportunities include:

Materials Engineering: understanding how steel behaves in practice and improving its performance through testing and analysis
Civil/Structural Engineering: supporting the structures, assets and infrastructure that keep the Steelworks running safely and reliably
Mechanical Engineering: working with large-scale plant and equipment, keeping it running and improving how it operates
Electrical Engineering: working across power, control and automation systems that keep a 24/7 operation moving
Computer Engineering: improving the digital systems, data and technology that support how the site runs day to day
Science (Chemistry): working with testing, analysis and process data to understand and improve steel production

The Cadetship experience

This structured program gives you hands-on experience while you study. You’ll combine university with paid work at the Steelworks, with dedicated time each week for classes and exams, while gaining a clearer understanding of how your discipline fits into the wider operation. In practical terms, you might:

work alongside teams on site and see how decisions move into action
contribute to projects with a clear outcome and purpose
learn from experienced people who explain how things work and why they do them that way
see how materials, systems and equipment come together in practice
develop practical judgement by seeing problems, systems and decisions up close
if you’re in Electrical, you’ll also have the chance to develop hands-on trade capability alongside your degree

You’ll also be supported to stay on top of both study and work, with a program designed to make that balance manageable.

What you’ll love

One of the biggest differences with a cadetship is that you’re not waiting until the end of your degree to gain experience. You’re doing it as you go, while what you’re learning is still fresh. A few things stand out for people in the program:

you gain experience early while you study, so you’re not starting from scratch when you graduate
you work on things with a clear outcome and can see where your contribution fits
you get exposure across the business which helps you understand how teams and systems connect
you’re supported by people who want to see you do well and make time to share what they know
you’re earning while you learn with paid work, practical experience and time set aside for uni

That mix of study and real work gives you confidence, capability and a clearer sense of where you want to take your career.

More about you

You might be finishing Year 12, or already at the University of Wollongong (UOW) and looking to gain experience alongside your studies. This opportunity is open to:

year 12 students who have the prerequisites to study Science (Chemistry) or Engineering at the University of Wollongong (UOW). In your first year, you’ll focus on full-time study and get exposure to BlueScope through casual work
undergraduate students in their first or second year who are studying, or open to transferring into, Science (Chemistry), Civil/Structural, Mechanical, Materials, Electrical or Computer Engineering at UOW. You’ll combine part-time study with part-time work

Beyond study requirements, we’re looking for people who are curious, practical and willing to learn. You might be someone who asks questions, likes understanding how things work, and wants experience in a real operating environment. If that sounds like you, this could be the place your career journey can start.

What happens next

submit your application: include your resume, discipline preferences and academic results (Year 11/12, or university transcripts and WAM)
complete an interview: shortlisted applicants will be invited to a face-to-face interview with members of our team
attend a site tour: selected applicants will visit our Port Kembla Steelworks and see an area relevant to their discipline
complete pre-employment medical and reference checks: including a drug and alcohol test
receive an offer: successful applicants will receive an offer to begin in January 2027. We’ll support you as you transition into the program, including induction, mentoring and flexible study arrangements.

To learn more, view our FAQ document and dedicated careers page: Careers at BlueScope

Our cadetship program has been part of BlueScope for decades, with many former cadets going on to establish long-term careers across the business. For students, it’s a practical way to get started, backed by a long-standing partnership with UOW and real experience from the start. We’re not just building careers, we’re building the future, and that future could start with you.

Applications close Sunday, 30 August 2026.