Celebrating 50 years of the Steelworks and UOW partnership
The first group of University of Wollongong (UOW) students to enrol in the BlueScope Cadets program will reunite in Wollongong this weekend (18 and 19 January) to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
The milestone weekend will include a tour of BlueScope Steel, a visit to the UOW campus, a celebratory dinner and a series of events to honour the program that has shaped the careers of hundreds of engineering and industry leaders over the past five decades.
Where it all began
It was the summer of 1974-75 when 70 young men descended on Wollongong to embark on a lifechanging journey. Fresh out of high school and drawn from across New South Wales the men were about to begin traineeships at Australian Iron and Steel (AIS) in Port Kembla, today known as BlueScope Steel.
Their new day to day life blended rigorous academic study with practical on-the-job training. Honorary Professorial Fellow, Dr Richard Dwight, one of the original trainees, echoed the views of many that the program was transformative.
"We were just kids, stepping into a whole new world," Dr Dwight said. "Those from out of town boarded at Weerona, next to the Wollongong Tennis Club, and spent our days balancing work at the Steelworks and study at UOW or Wollongong TAFE and various 'non-curricular activities'. It was a challenging but transformative time in our lives."
Collaboration between UOW and BlueScope
Since its inception, the program has been a collaboration between BlueScope and UOW, providing invaluable training and academic opportunities to generations of students. Originally known as the Steelworks Traineeship Program, the young (almost exclusively) men worked across various disciplines, including mechanical, materials, electrical, civil, and chemical engineering, as well as mathematics and computing, surveying, and commerce.
One day each week was dedicated to university or TAFE studies, while the rest of the time was spent learning trades and gradually taking on supervisory roles at the Steelworks.
Dr Dwight recalls that study days were intense.
"We started with 8:30am maths classes in demountable buildings near the UOW sports fields and usually did not finish until 8:30pm in the design office or with more maths in Building 14, the only tiered lecture theatre on campus at the time," Dr Dwight said.
"Overall we survived it and together with our practical work at the Steelworks it did lay the foundation for everything that followed."
Ms Stacey Sutherland is from BlueScope and said the cadetship program is a vital strategic pipeline for nurturing future talent.
"With 110 cadets in the program in 2025 we're proud to be investing in the next generation of leaders, equipping them with the skills, knowledge and experience to drive innovation and success in the years to come," Ms Sutherland said.
"BlueScope employs cadets across many disciplines, including electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials engineering, computer engineering, and chemistry, ensuring we are prepared to meet the demands of an evolving industry.
"The program offers cadets invaluable hands-on training and the opportunity to work on exciting, real-world projects such as the #6 Blast Furnace Reline, providing them with a strong foundation to launch their careers and make a lasting impact in their chosen fields."
Witnessing history
The trainees also had the unique experience of witnessing UOW's transformation in its early years.
"We saw the installation of the duck pond, the first brown brick paths, and the paving of carparks," Dr Dwight said. "I don't recall spending much time at the UniBar. I'm not even sure it was established back then."
Dr Dwight said lunchtimes were often a highlight, with performances by iconic Australian bands such as Cold Chisel and Captain Matchbox providing a welcome break from the trainees' schedules.
The opportunities presented to the trainees through on-the-job training set them up for their future careers
Diverse careers and lifelong impact
Over the past 50 years, the trainees from the 1975 cohort have gone on to build diverse and successful careers in engineering and other disciplines, management, teaching, academia, and beyond.
"The program wasn't just about training us for jobs, it was about preparing us for life," Dr Dwight said.
"It gave us a strong work ethic, practical skills, and the confidence to tackle challenges head-on. The program provided us with insight to how our studies related to business and people which is vital to implementing the improvement challenges we would face . The lessons we learned at UOW, TAFE, and BlueScope have stayed with us throughout our lives.
Dr Dwight said the opportunities presented to the trainees through on-the-job training set them up for their future careers.
"In my case, I worked for many years in the steel industry and later pursued a PhD and as an academic to pass this real-world experience to the next generation of engineers," Dr Dwight said.
"The reunion is a chance to reconnect, reminisce and celebrate the program's enduring legacy."
Weekend celebration plans
Saturday, 18 January 2025
- 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Steelworks Tour: A tailored tour of BlueScope Steel.
- 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm University Tour: A behind-the-scenes look at UOW's current activities, staff, and students.
- 5:30 pm for 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm 50th Steelworks 1st Year Trainee Anniversary Dinner: A celebratory dinner at Hemingway Restaurant, Building 67, UOW.
Sunday, 19 January 2025
- 10:30 am Walk/Cycle, Talk, and Consume: A casual walk or cycle along Wollongong's scenic Blue Mile, including a coffee stop.
- Options to visit HARS Aviation Museum: Explore the rich history of aviation at the museum (last tour starts at 2:00 pm); or Australian MOTORLIFE Museum: Discover Australia's automotive history (last entry at 3:30 pm).
