A new initiative is helping children from refugee and migrant backgrounds to learn more about the construction industry
The team on Melbourne’s Hopkins Road Level Crossing Removal Project recently partnered with Edmund Rice Community Services, to host a site visit for about 30 children from diverse backgrounds during their recent school holidays.
As part of the visit, the children, aged 5 to 13 years old, learned about the different types of jobs on a construction site, and got some firsthand experience on a site walk where they were able to get up close to several big machines on the project in the western suburb of Truganina.
Edmund Rice Community Services state lead Mark Monahan says the school holiday program was the first initiative the charity had developed for children with a construction focus.
“We are always looking for unique opportunities for the kids to connect with, and by visiting the Hopkins Road construction site, they learn about other opportunities out there,” he says.
“Going to something like this stimulates their thinking. For example, now when the children drive past a construction zone they might think, ‘maybe I could work there, so I’m going to go to school and try extra hard’.
“We know that small increments over time pay off.”
Construction is progressing at Hopkins Road, with piling works recently completed.
Over the next few months, it is expected crews will start to build the bridge piers, form the retaining walls and pour the bridge support wall. The bridge’s 27 giant support beams will be lifted into place later this year.