Turn study into experience with Alcoa

“For university students aspiring to work in the resources sector, Alcoa Australia is offering 24 paid summer vacation roles as part of its 2026 Vacation Student Program.

The 12-week, full-time program, commencing in November 2026, provides hands-on experience alongside experienced professionals across Alcoa’s operations in Western Australia and at its aluminium smelter in Portland, Victoria.

Vacation students will work across a range of disciplines, including engineering, IT, environmental science, finance, procurement, health and safety and occupational hygiene.

Graduate Electrical Engineer Monika Eyer, who completed the program three times before joining Alcoa, said each experience offered something different.

“I’ve done the program three times, and each one has been so different,” Monika said.

“My first placement was with the capital projects team, where I worked with people across engineering, environmental, financial and legal teams, which really helped me understand how everything connects.

“My final placement at Pinjarra refinery was a completely different, fast-paced environment, where I could see real operations in action. It made the whole experience really rewarding.”

Graduate Chemical Engineer Shannon Henderson said the program gave her the opportunity to apply her studies in a real-world setting.

“I completed a 12-week vacation program at Pinjarra refinery and was able to apply what I’d learned at university to real project work while learning from experienced engineers on site,” Shannon said.

“I worked across two different areas, which helped me build my skills in a hands-on role. It was the perfect opportunity while I was at university.”

Across Western Australia and Portland, Alcoa is offering roles in a wide range of fields.

In Western Australia, opportunities include IT, electrical, mechanical and geotechnical engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry and mining engineering.

At its Portland Aluminium Smelter, roles span IT, electrical and mechanical engineering, procurement, finance, environmental science, occupational hygiene, health and safety and chemical engineering.

Applications for the Vacation Student Program are open from 9 June to 6 July 2026.

To learn more and apply, visit the Alcoa Australia careers page.