Kristy Stewart loves tunnelling under Melbourne

Tunnelling under Melbourne has got to be fun and Kristy Stewart who grew up in Shepparton is excited to be part of it.

‘My first month on the job has been brilliant – the people are so easy to work with and I have plenty of support around me,’ she said.

She is one of 10 Indigenous recruits who commenced employment in various roles across the West Gate Tunnel Project’s five major worksites in Melbourne’s west last year.

The group, made up of 3 women and 7 men, gained employment with the project through the MEGT Vocational Training and Employment Centre (VTEC).

VTEC is funded by the Australian Government and works with employers, candidates, training organisations and local communities to identify and support Indigenous candidates into employment.

The 10 candidates graduated from a 4-week Pre-Employment Program that included hands-on training to learn practical skills.

The skills, needed for work on major infrastructure projects, were part of a Certificate II in Civil Construction from the Kangan Institute Indigenous Education Centre in Broadmeadows.

While working on the West Gate Tunnel Project, the group has been completing a Certificate III Civil Construction qualification.

‘It’s good to put into practice what we learned at the training course and I am continuing to learn new things on the job each day. I am also very excited for the arrival of the massive tunnel boring machines and can’t wait to get involved in some way,’ Kristy said.

Kristy and her family are from Waanyi country in north-west Queensland.

‘Most of my family now live in Broome and I am encouraging my sister and friends to work in construction as well. This project has every kind of job that you can possibly imagine – and jobs that do not require manual labour.’

MEGT VTEC will continue to mentor and support Kristy, her employer, and fellow Indigenous colleagues to ensure a successful transition into the workforce.