“John Holland has worked hard to achieve the targets in the Infrastructure Skills legacy Program and has outstanding results for its efforts. To achieve 33% apprenticeship uptake on the project is a major achievement and its Aboriginal participation at almost 9% of the total workforce is testimony to strong community engagement on the project.” - David Collins, Executive Director, Training Services NSW.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
This case study highlights the commitment to improving skills and training and increasing industry diversity in line with Points 9 and 10 in the 10 Point Plan.
The Clarence Correctional Centre, located in Lavadia (approximately 12.5 kilometres southeast of Grafton), will accommodate 1,700 inmates.
It will feature state of the art security and surveillance and focus on rehabilitation to help reduce the rate of reoffending.
Benefits of the project include:
INITIATIVES
The project is committed to improving skills and training and increasing industry diversity in line with Points 9 and 10 of the 10 Point Plan. During its construction, the project is committed to working with the Infrastructure Skills Legacy Program (ISLP) to help improve worker skills and training by meeting the following measures and targets:
APPROACH
Stakeholder engagement
In order to achieve the ISLP targets and support the initiatives, strong relationships were built with subcontractors and service providers to work towards ISLP targets, while engaging early with local employment providers to assist with referral and preparation of candidates to meet demand for local people and young people on the project.
Delivery process
To ensure successful delivery, various hosting information sessions were held to connect local job seekers to subcontractors working on the project, as well as facilitating events to support women in the construction industry. A key priority of raising awareness of mental health issues and intervention initiatives were implemented to support workers.
Current status
Delivery of the project is on track for completion in early 2020, and the new prison will be operational in mid-2020.
OUTCOMES
Improved skills and training
Around 1,325 workers have undertaken formal skills training onsite (Mar 2018 - Oct 2019) through the NSW Smart & Skilled Part Qualification program resulting in accredited training outcomes ranging from skills sets and high-risk license training through to Diploma level.
Increased industry diversity
While the target of 2% was comfortably achieved with 2.4% of the workforce being women in non-traditional roles, a collaboration with Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen (SALT) and TAFE NSW resulted in the delivery of a Women-in-Construction event onsite promoting pathways for women in the construction industry. Additionally, a special ‘work-life-balance’ event for women was delivered onsite with over 30 women from across the project in attendance.
Introduction of a best practice mental health initiative for the project workforce
Caring in Construction, a suicide prevention & mental wellbeing pilot program at the Clarence Correctional Centre, provides ongoing support in the workplace by encouraging workers (including apprentices) to remain at work in a supportive environment. The program promotes and enables preventative mental health care, early intervention, and encourages positive role modelling by managers and leaders.
Workforce Transition support
This was facilitated by ISLP officers, the series provided practical support for workers facing demobilisation, to assist them to prepare for the future and link them up with support services during times of stress. With around 100 workers in attendance, a panel of industry experts spoke optimistically about the future of construction and provided information and advice to assist workers to front-foot change. Additional support was provided to Under 25s with a special event delivered by HeadSpace to assist young workers to positively plan for their future.
These outcomes supported the below achievements, including:
For more information, visit the Training Services NSW webpage or contact the team at Training Services NSW.
Phone: (02) 8267 7622
Email: ISLP@det.nsw.edu.au
More information on the project delivery can also be found on the Clarence Correctional Centre project page.
