Our People's Stories

Like most youngsters, Jade Christie loved climbing trees as a kid. The adventure, fresh air, and freedom were irresistible for an active young boy. But Jade never imagined he’d be climbing trees for a living. Now, as an arborist in Latrobe City Council’s Tree Maintenance department, it’s in his job description!

A proud Gunaikurnai man from East Gippsland, Jade joined us in 2012, after he had participated in our Indigenous Employment Program. Having completed a Certificate III in Conservation and Land Management, he wanted a job where he could work outdoors, keep physically fit, and make a visible difference to his community. A casual role in our parks and gardens department was the ideal starting point - a stepping stone that enabled his career to take root in Latrobe City’s outside spaces.

“I really enjoyed working outdoors. So, when a Council traineeship came up, I applied and was successful. I went on to complete my Certificate II in Parks and Gardens.”

Once he completed his traineeship, Jade began a full-time position with our mowing crew. The physical work suited him, and he thrived being part of a close-knit team. But what Jade truly enjoyed was working with the tree crew. He completed his Certificate III in Arboriculture, then landed a position in our Tree Maintenance department. He hasn’t looked back.

“That’s when I started doing all the fun stuff!”

As an Experienced Maintenance Employee, Jade leads one of our two Tree Maintenance crews. The teams are responsible for managing and maintaining tree health and integrity throughout Latrobe City, clearing roadsides through cyclical pruning programs, and removing hazardous trees to ensure the community’s safety.

“Our workday is from 7am to 4pm, but no day is the same. One day, we could be removing a hazardous tree, and the next, we could be cleaning up after a storm. We do small and large crewman jobs, such as pruning, branch pick-ups, operating excavators, clearing debris from around electrical assets - pretty much everything to do with trees!”

Safety is Jade’s number-one priority. Clear communication, responsibility, and trust are vital for the tree crew to work effectively - especially at large tree jobs.

“You’ve got to have a mindset of being safe. Everything has to be done properly because one mistake could be disastrous.”

Jade says a ground worker and climber work together to ensure a safe, successful operation. The climber uses ropes, harnesses, and an elevated work platform to prune and remove tree branches. Meanwhile, the ground worker runs the lowering line, sends equipment to the climber via the ropes, and ensures a safe landing zone for removed branches and wood.

To succeed in his role, Jade says it helps to be cool, calm and collected. Not being afraid of heights helps, too!

“With larger tree jobs, you’re often pushing yourself to the limit - getting right out there on the branches, high up a tree. It can be challenging, but you feel pretty chuffed with yourself when you get the job done.”

Once a large tree is removed, the crew cuts it into logs, then it gets chipped or ground into mulch and used on Latrobe City’s garden beds.

“Every day’s an adventure,” Jade says. “You often don’t know what you’re doing until you turn up to work that day.”

Jade is grateful for the career opportunities he’s had at Latrobe City Council. He takes pride in his work, knowing he’s making a visible difference to his community. And there’s plenty more he’d like to learn yet.

“I want to do more arboriculture training and expand my knowledge of trees. I’d also like to undergo some leadership training. That’s one great thing about working here - there are always training opportunities. You get the chance to collaborate with other departments, too.”

And if you’re thinking about a career at Latrobe City Council?

“I’d recommend it to anyone. It’s a great place to work with a good, solid platform. You can start in one area, then move to anywhere you want. And in Tree Maintenance, you don’t have to worry about a gym membership - the work keeps you in shape!”

Eric Robinson is creating a roadmap to success - literally. Every time the Roads Engineer drives around Latrobe City, he sees all the signposts of his evolving career.

“My fingerprints are everywhere,” Eric says. “When I drive down a road, I think, ‘Well, I know where that goes - I re-sealed it two years ago!’ It’s satisfying. I like making a tangible difference, and I can see it all around me.”

Eric and his team are dedicated to maintaining and improving our roads to ensure the safety of the Latrobe City community. As well as managing our yearly surfacing and sprayed seal renewal programs, Eric consults with residents, liaises with stakeholders and contractors.

Before joining Latrobe City Council four years ago, Eric worked as a rigger. But he yearned for something more: a job close to home, where he could achieve something great and make a difference in his community.

“I wasn’t happy working in construction,” Eric recalls. “I was living in Gippsland but did a lot of work in Melbourne. I got a little tired of driving an hour and a half to the city every day.”

So, Eric decided to study Civil and Environmental Engineering as a mature-age university student. As part of his degree, he completed an industry work placement at Latrobe City Council.

“This gave me a chance to learn about the Council and make a good impression,” Eric says. “When a position did come up, my experience got me the job.”

Eric’s day usually begins at 7am, when his subcontractors start work. No workday is the same, and that’s how he likes it.

“My job is cyclical from year to year. There are lots of ebbs and flows. At the moment, I’ve got six contractors working for me, and a lot of my time is taken up with checking their work. Soon, my focus will be on planning for the next year. I’ve always been able to step back and take an overall view of things, but my long-term management has definitely improved in this role.”

Sustainability is one of Eric’s top priorities. He’s always looking for environmentally friendly solutions to improve Latrobe City’s roads. Last year, with Council’s support, he applied for a grant from Sustainability Victoria to trial a new asphalt made with recycled glass.

“The trial was driven by a recycling contractor who said to us, ‘We’ve got all this extra glass, can you use it?’ So, I did the legwork and figured out the exact amount of money we’d need to test a recycled glass asphalt. I applied for the grant, and we were successful. We got the full amount we needed - $130,000. The asphalt trial is scheduled to go ahead in Traralgon in February, and if it goes well, we’ll encourage our contractors to use it.”

It’s this kind of initiative that’s helped Eric go from strength to strength as a Roads Engineer. And he’s grateful to work for an organisation that values learning, collaboration, and integrity.

“It’s clear to me that Latrobe City Council trusts me to do my job properly. They don’t micromanage me. They really do live up to their values of trust and accountability.”

As a husband and father, Eric loves the flexibility of his role. Each fortnight, he receives an RDO (rostered day off) that he usually spends caring for his daughter. He also values the support in his job, particularly in a world affected by COVID-19.

“Council work isn’t always easy, and we work harder than many realise. But I do feel supported in my role here - during the pandemic, it’s really been brought home to me how important that is.”

Eric says that as long as there are improvements to make and skills to learn, he’s staying with Latrobe City Council. And he encourages others wanting to find their people and place to consider a career at Council, too.

“In my role, you need to be flexible, organised, and open minded. You also have to be patient with residents and be able to communicate with stakeholders. Nothing beats industry experience, though, and you’ll learn on the job with a mentor. I still feel I can make improvements in my role, so I can see myself being with Latrobe City Council for some time.”

Belinda Crawford is a proud Kurnai woman with a strong connection to her clan and culture. As Latrobe City Council’s Early Childhood Leader, she’s dedicated to creating a safe space for our most vulnerable families.

You see, safety was something Belinda’s mother and grandmother often did not feel. Growing up, Belinda was tremendously impacted by their stories of struggle.

“My mum and grandmother experienced suffering,” Belinda says. “Although they never had family members taken away, they told stories of hiding children in bushes so the authorities couldn’t find them. I’ve seen the ripple effect the stolen generation has had on Aboriginal peoples over the decades. It is just so important to give children the best start in life - that’s where my heart has always been.”

Belinda’s passion for supporting children comes to the fore in her role with our Family Services department. In the three years she has been with us, Belinda has reconnected vulnerable Latrobe City families to critical maternal and parenting support services. She’s also been the driving force of First 1,000 Days Australia - an initiative that strengthens First Nation families through cultural, educational and community support.

“The First 1,000 Days refers to a child’s first two years of life,” says Belinda, who began her career in childcare. “This is when a child’s foundation of wellness and development are established. It’s also a critical time to connect Aboriginal children and their families with their culture.”

Each year, as part of the First 1,000 Days program, a ceremony is held where Aboriginal children up to two years old are officially welcomed to country by their elders. It’s an event that holds a special place in Belinda’s heart.

“It’s a beautiful ceremony. Families get to learn more about their family tree and totem animals. It’s heart-warming when people tell us how much it means to them to feel that connection with their elders and culture. It’s a special program we’re really proud of.”

Often, it’s the small things that have the greatest impact. Belinda sees this every day through her work with Latrobe City’s preschools. Working alongside Victoria’s Department of Education and Training, Belinda supports preschools to become more inclusive of Aboriginal families. Staff training combined with small yet meaningful practices, such as displaying the Aboriginal flag and an acknowledgement to country plaque, can make a profound difference.

“Aboriginal families are amongst our most vulnerable people,” Belinda reflects. “When you don’t feel respected, you disconnect. So, when families walk into a preschool or office and see the Aboriginal flag, it automatically tells them this is a safe space for them. They feel acknowledged and comfortable.”

And these practices are working - the data proves it.

“Over the past three years, the numbers tell us we are significantly re-engaging families - especially those with children aged two to three. It’s a massive achievement.”

Belinda relishes a challenge. For her, it’s an opportunity to learn, grow, and add even more value to the community. And it’s why she loves working with an organisation that puts employee development first.

“Prior to working on the First 1,000 Days, I’d never been a Project Manager before - I was working in the facilitating space,” Belinda says. “But with the support of my manager at Latrobe, I’ve achieved some enormous learning. I’ve come to trust my instincts and know how to find better solutions.”

As a mother of three children, Belinda loves Latrobe City Council’s flexibility, which makes balancing home and work life so much easier.

“I have control over my work days. There is the expectation that I complete my hours, but how I do that is up to me. I receive a level of trust from Latrobe City Council I’ve never experienced with other organisations.”

For now, Belinda is happy in a meaningful role where she can drive significant change within the community. But she knows if she ever does want to explore other career directions with Latrobe City Council, she will be fully supported.

“I love that I’m valued. My opinions matter here. I’m part of an extraordinary team where every single person is passionate about their job. I get so much support and opportunities to grow, I don’t want to leave!”