Apprentice Electroplater

Work Initiatives; Maitland; On-site; AUD 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging options

Novated leasing

Discounts at everyday stores

In-house training program

8 weeks paid parental leave

Women’s Lead Network

Home Safe Everyday program

Job summary

Swanson Industries is seeking an Apprentice Electroplater to join the Georgetown team, starting December/January. You’ll train hands-on in hard chrome plating, from surface prep through plating to finishing, working on cylinders and components used in mining and industrial equipment.

Through the Elevate Apprenticeship Program, you’ll have a mentor, structured learning, and a wider network of apprentices across Questas Group, building a solid foundation in surface technology in Australia.

Qualifications

• Minimum Year 10 High School Certificate.
• Curious about how surface treatment and finishing processes work.
• Comfortable with maths, and good with your hands.
• Careful and precise - accuracy matters in this trade.

Responsibilities

• Work alongside senior electroplaters on hard chrome plating processes.
• Learn surface preparation, plating, and finishing techniques.
• Assist with inspection and quality checks on plated components.
• Get hands-on with chrome plating equipment and processes.

Skills

Interest in finishing

Maths aptitude

Education

Year 10 Certificate

Job description

We're looking for an Apprentice Electroplater to join our Georgetown team, starting December/January. You'll get hands‑on training in hard chrome plating - learning the process from surface preparation through to plating and finishing - while working on cylinders and components that keep major mining and industrial equipment running.

What Is Electroplating?

Electroplating uses an electric current to bond a thin layer of metal onto a component. There's some chemistry involved too - getting the plating solution mixed right, and understanding how it reacts with the metal, is part of the job. We'll spend time teaching you this as part of your apprenticeship, so you're not expected to know it going in. In hard chrome plating, the part is cleaned and prepped, then placed in a chromium solution with a current running through it. This builds up a hard, wear‑resistant layer of chrome on the surface - which is what keeps hydraulic cylinders and equipment parts holding up under constant pressure and friction.

As an apprentice, you'll get hands‑on with each step:

• Surface prep - cleaning and masking parts before plating
• Plating - managing current and solution to build up the chrome layer
• Finishing - grinding or polishing to the right spec
• Inspection - checking thickness and quality against standards

You won't be figuring this out on your own. Through our Elevate Apprenticeship Program, you'll have a mentor in your corner, structured learning through the Elevate Academy, and a wider community of apprentices across Questas Group going through the same journey.

Your Responsibilities

• Work alongside senior electroplaters on hard chrome plating processes
• Learn surface preparation, plating, and finishing techniques
• Assist with inspection and quality checks on plated components
• Get hands‑on with chrome plating equipment and processes

About You

• Minimum Year 10 High School Certificate
• Curious about how surface treatment and finishing processes work
• Comfortable with maths, and good with your hands
• Careful and precise - accuracy matters in this trade

What's In It For You?

A nationally recognised trade qualification, earned with a business at the forefront of surface technology in Australia - plus rotations across our local branches to build a well‑rounded skill set most apprenticeships can't offer. And a career that keeps going after your ticket comes through: apprentices who complete the Elevate Program go on to build lasting careers across Questas Group, backed by mentoring, recognition, and the resources of a national network.

Why Swanson Industries?

• Employee benefits program - offering salary packaging options, novated leasing, discounts at everyday stores and much more!
• Access to our inhouse training program.
• 8 weeks paid parental leave & 1 week secondary carer leave.
• An inclusive culture and access to our Women’s Lead Network
• A robust focus on work, health and safety through our “Home Safely Every day” program