Road Design Training Centre
If your interest lies in road design or surveying then Transport and Main Roads would like to fast track your training and get you qualified and on the job faster - and we pay for your course expenses!
It all happens through our Road Design Training Centre (RDTC).
What are the types of cadetships?
What is a Civil Designer?
What is a Surveyor?
What are the benefits of joining the Road Design Training Centre?
Entry Requirements
Employment conditions
Meet our RDTC Graduates
Location
Accommodation
How to apply
What are the types of cadetships?
- Civil Design cadets
If you choose to become a Civil Design cadet you will be required to study at USQ for an Associate Degree in Engineering (Civil) which you are expected to complete during the two years you are at the RDTC. Once you leave the RDTC you will have the opportunity to undertake further study to complete a Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Civil). This study normally takes an additional two years of part time study which you can undertake as an external student while working full time for TMR as a Civil Designer.
- Survey cadets
As a survey cadet you will be required to study at USQ for a Bachelor of Spatial Science Technology. You will normally complete 2/3rds of the course (16 units) over the two years you are at the RDTC and the remaining 8 units over the following two years part time as an external student while working full time for TMR as an Engineering Surveyor.
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What is a Civil Designer?
Civil Designers are vital to ensure city and regional growth is well planned and structured. They design the roads, major highways and bridges that we use every day. Designers get to use their computing and graphics skills on advanced road design software using their creativity, practicality and their problem solving skills to help their community.
Some of the other things you can do as a Civil Designer include:
- Design roads, bridges and intelligent transport systems
- Assess the needs of the state controlled network to meet the demands of the public and develop improvement strategies
- Manage planning and design projects
- Present road planning and design recommendations to the community and other clients.
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What is a Surveyor?
Surveyors are experts at measurement. They are skilled in analysing and presenting information about the world and the structures on it. Surveyors use these skills to carry out work such as determining property boundaries, preparing contour maps or setting out the location of roads and buildings. The types of surveyors at TMR are:
- Engineering Surveyors
- Cadastral Surveyors
- Hydrographic Surveyors
The majority of surveyors in the department are Engineering Surveyors. They acquire and validate geospatial information for planning, design, construction and road corridor management. They are directly involved with surveying principals and apply expertise in methodologies for locating, controlling, measuring and auditing road projects.
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What are the benefits of joining the Road Design Training Centre?
- The Road Design Training Centre uses cutting edge technology to deliver the very best in training.
- You will gain a university qualification in a minimum of two years
- You get paid to study.
- Your HELP debt and university expenses such as textbooks are reimbursed by the department on the successful completion of each subject.
- Upon graduation you will have the opportunity to work in any one of our Queensland locations (the locations are subject to availability).
- Transport and Main Roads is registered with the Training Employment Recognition Council (TERC) as a registered training organisation (RTO).
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Entry Requirements
- An RDTC cadetship is an entry-level position intended for applicants with little or no previous tertiary study in engineering or surveying. The program requires Year 12 or equivalent English and Year 12 or equivalent Maths B (knowledge of Maths A is assumed).
- The University of Southern Queensland also recommends Maths C and Physics for both engineering and surveying students as well as chemistry if you are studying engineering. While these subjects aren’t pre-requisites, they will help considerably with various university subjects you will study.
- We welcome mature age cadets to the program.
The Road Design Training Centre currently consists of about 50% mature-age cadets; many of who have taken the opportunity to make a career change as this program allows full-time study, while still earning a reasonable salary. The remainder of the cadets are recent school leavers.
To find out if you are eligible to apply for the Associate Degree in Engineering (Civil) or Bachelor of Spatial Science Technology, please contact:
- University of Southern Queensland ph. 1800 640 678 or,
- Qld Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) ph. 1300 467
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Employment Conditions
- Working hours are 7.25 hours per day, 36.25 hours per week.
- There are many work-life balance benefits including a variety of leave provisions and flexible working hours.
- During the cadetship: $1508.10 (gross) per fortnight or, $1623.00 (gross) per fortnight (if your over 21 years of age).
- The Queensland Government will contribute to your superannuation scheme up to 12.75% of your annual salary. Most new QSuper members start paying standard contributions of 5% of salary, while your employer contributes 12.75%. You can choose to pay less than 5% (to a minimum of 2%), however this means your employer also pays less.
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Meet our RDTC Graduates
Here’s what our cadets have to say about the Cadetship Program at the Road Design Training Centre (RDTC):
Daniel Bell – Graduate Designer (Civil)
“The RDTC was an excellent kick start to my career in road design. The skills I learnt during the two years at the school helped to prepare me for the work I am now completing as a graduate designer. The in-house training that I undertook during the two years was delivered by industry professionals who have proven experience and knowledge in their chosen fields. I look back on my time in the RDTC fondly, and credit the relationships and support given from the leadership team and fellow cadets for successfully completing my university and department courses.”
Adrian Bidgood – Designer (Civil)
“The training opportunities provided by the RDTC are excellent, not are you only trained by local experienced designers but also highly skilled engineers and designers from across the state. Having entered the RDTC as a mature aged cadet it has provided me with an opportunity to change career, to study and to earn a wage. I feel privileged to have been part of the RDTC program.”
Chris Cuckson – Graduate Designer (Civil)
“Everyday I learn something new. I think there are many rewarding aspects of the cadetship program, a major one being the ability to earn while you learn. This enables cadets to dedicate a lot of time to completing assessments through the semester. Another major highlight of the RDTC would be the friendships that are formed over the two years. My future goals are to learn as much as I can from the experience that I have around me in my new office. I am also undertaking further studies towards the engineering degree.”
Joann Waters – Designer (Civil)
“The most rewarding aspect of the RDTC was the support we received to complete our studies and the extensive training opportunities. I have also been given some great opportunities with regards to projects. Currently I’m finishing up Kings Creek bridge rehabilitation which I’m working on with another RDTC designer.”
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Location
The Road Design Training Centre is located in Toowoomba, which is 138km west of Brisbane. Toowoomba is known as Queensland’s Garden City due to its wide tree-lined streets, colonial architecture and many fine parks and gardens.
As Queensland’s largest inland city, Toowoomba offers the best of both worlds – urban living without any of the big-city hassles. Being the hub of the fertile Darling Downs region has resulted in a city with extensive sporting, recreational, education, health, retail and professional services.
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Accommodation
The Toowoomba rental market is comparable with most major cities; there are rental options available in most price ranges. If you are single you are able to take advantage of the student accommodation provided by the residential colleges attached to the University of Southern Queensland (USQ).
There are three residential colleges associated with USQ; they are Concannon, McGregor and Steel Rudd colleges. The approximate cost of accommodation at McGregor College is about $250 per week which includes your own room, shared bathroom with one other, all meals, internet access and a room cleaning and linen service.
More details on USQ residential colleges can be found on the USQ web site.
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How to apply
Register your interest now for the 2013 Road Design Training Centre Cadetship Programs.
Find out more:
Last updated 22 Mar 2012