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Blending learning with real-world experience, two of Civium’s first Kickstarter trainees share their journey so far.
“Before starting, I knew Civium was a real estate company,” said Angus, “but I didn’t really know what that meant yet. The big surprise was realising it’s not just about selling houses.”
Will added, “There’s so much more behind the scenes that Civium does to support people with their homes.”
Both trainees have now rotated through Civium’s client service and maintenance teams, giving them hands-on experience with everything from software systems and contractor coordination to AGMs and urgent client requests.
One standout moment? The time a tree fell late one afternoon at a residential complex.
“We had one person on the phone to a contractor, one to the client, and we managed to organise a make-safe that night,” they recalled. “It was stressful but rewarding. That’s where the relationships we’ve built with contractors really count.”
Real Work, Real Growth
The structure of the traineeship means, with the support of the team, they’re already working on live portfolios and problem-solving daily. From logging maintenance jobs in Civium’s own contractor and maintenance system, to talking directly with strata managers and owners, the experience has helped develop not just technical skills—but people skills, too.
“You’ve got to learn to deal with everyone respectfully and efficiently,” Angus said, “You realise pretty quickly that this job is really about people. Even though it’s called property, it’s all about relationships.”
Both trainees also noted how their comfort with phone calls has grown dramatically
“Now if my mate calls me, I answer the phone like I’m still at work,” Will joked.
“It’s taught me how to have difficult conversations and be professional but approachable” Angus added.
A Glimpse into the Industry
Through weekly mentoring, rotations across departments, and exposure to both residential and commercial strata portfolios, the trainees are also developing a stronger sense of direction.
“At first I thought I’d go into sport management,” said Will. “But I heard about this and thought, ‘a job and a qualification at the same time?’ It was too good to pass up.
The program has also changed how they view the industry—and their own futures.
“Having hands-on experience in real estate, while earning at the same time, sets me up really well for potentially owning a home in the future,” Angus said. “It’s made the idea of property ownership feel more real—and more achievable.”
Building Resilience
Like any fast-paced work environment, strata has its tough moments. But both trainees have shown maturity well beyond their years when it comes to handling setbacks and learning how to bounce back.
“It’s always changing. You learn not to take things too personally. At the end of the day, it’s not typically your fault—even if people still think it is. That’s strata for you,” Will said.
They’ve learned that emotional resilience and self-awareness are just as important as technical skills—especially when dealing with complex problems or unhappy clients.
“You just have to stay calm and work through it,” they said added. “Most of the time, the solution is already in the team or the system—you just need to trust the process.”
What’s Next?
As the Strata Kickstarter program continues, both trainees are looking ahead to their next rotations—and eventually, their first full-time roles in the industry.
Both agreed that the biggest challenge is also the biggest opportunity: discovering just how much there is to learn, and how different every day can be.
“There’s something different every day,” Angus said. “You have to be ready to adapt and solve problems—even if that just means figuring out who to ask.”
Their early experiences prove that with the right support, real-world exposure, and a willingness to learn, you don’t need years of experience to start building a meaningful career in property.
And for anyone considering applying for a role at Civium,or looking for future traineeship opportunities.
“Just give it a go,” Angus said.
Will added, “There’s so much you can take from it—and you won’t know until you’re in it.”
