Building a new cohort of tradies in Geelong

THE Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre is not only building a new silhouette on the Geelong Waterfront but also new job opportunities for Geelong residents who have experienced barriers to employment.

Through the GCEC Early Engagement Social Procurement (GEESP) program, 43 apprenticeships have now been created and more than 37,000 hours of training delivered in mechanical, carpentry, plumbing and electrical trades.

The number of hours of training delivered is expected to reach 45,000 hours by the time Nyaal Banyul is completed next year.

The program includes 12 weeks of fully-funded training at Gordon TAFE, mentoring, pre-employment guidance and on-site work experience for participants, many of whom have faced issues such as long-term unemployment, educational challenges, or limited industry access.

The GEESP program creates career pathways in construction via nationally accredited qualifications, and won in the Industry Collaboration category at this year’s Victorian Training Awards.

It was co-designed by Development Victoria, gforce and the Give Where You Live Foundation’s GROW initiative, and is being delivered by Nyaal Banyul head contractor Built.

For El, mother to a three-year-old daughter, working on Nyaal Banyul is a dream project.

A first-year apprentice with Wilson Plumbing and Drainage, El earmarked the waterfront site as a place she wanted to work, and she was linked into GEESP through the Parents Next Program at gforce.

“I said to my family ‘I’m gonna get on that build’, it was something I really wanted to do,” she said.

“I feel really lucky to have this opportunity. I highly recommend it.

“As the first female to go through the program, I’m looking forward to when my daughter is older and the centre opens, and I can tell her I helped to build that. I’m so glad I got this opportunity.”

El celebrated 12 months at Nyaal Banyul on Thursday last week, and hopes to next move to Built’s other major project in Geelong, the Barwon Women’s and Children’s hospital.

GCEC mentor at gforce Nick Powell said El was an excellent example of GEESP giving opportunities to people who otherwise would not get them.

“Her host employer was really supportive at the start – she needed some assistance with some different start times to allow her to get her kid to daycare,” Mr Powell said.

“That’s part of my role, to help negotiate with the employer and say ‘If we can make these minor adjustments, you’re going to end up with a great apprentice’, and El has proven she’s a great apprentice.”

Geelong MP Christine Couzens said the GEESP initiative was just one way that the process of constructing Nyaal Banyul was unique.

“It’s a very Geelong-based, community-based project,” she said.

“We’re all really excited about the grand opening, and what it means… for the community of Geelong to come through and see what’s been built.”