Scholarships help future builders pursue their goals

FOUR aspiring construction professionals who have faced significant barriers to education and employment have been awarded this year’s Mario Biasin Legacy Scholarships, including a former refugee, a young man rebuilding his life after homelessness and addiction, and a plumbing apprentice who moved to Australia alone to pursue a better future.

The scholarships, presented at the Building & Construction Foundation’s Building a Brighter Future Gala, provide financial support to people pursuing careers in the building and construction industry.

Among this year’s recipients is Satheesh Roshanth, who is studying a Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours) at RMIT University after arriving in Australia alone as a child seeking safety from hardship in Sri Lanka.

After more than a decade navigating immigration detention, foster care and uncertainty around his residency status, Satheesh recently secured permanent residency and is now focused on building a career in sustainable construction.

Also recognised was Jude Jackson, 16, who is preparing to commence a Certificate II in Electrotechnology at Chisholm TAFE. After experiencing homelessness, substance addiction and involvement with the youth justice system, he is now working towards a career as an electrician.

Plumbing apprentice Shyan Meade, who moved from New Zealand to Australia on her own, was also awarded a scholarship after overcoming significant personal hardship while pursuing a career in the trades.

Final-year RMIT construction management student Yunfei Li was the fourth recipient. A first-generation university student who migrated to Australia from China, she has balanced multiple part-time jobs while pursuing her ambition of becoming a quantity surveyor.

The scholarships were established in 2022 in honour of Metricon co-founder Mario Biasin and are awarded through leadership and early-career streams to support people facing barriers to education, training and employment.

Presenting the scholarships, Brent Biasin said this year’s recipients embodied the resilience and determination his father valued throughout his life and career.

“My father believed deeply in the power of opportunity,” Biasin said.

“He understood that talent and determination can be found everywhere, but that not everyone has the same access to support, education or a pathway into a rewarding career.

“These scholarships are about helping to bridge that gap. They provide practical support to people who have already shown extraordinary courage and commitment, often in the face of challenges many of us can only imagine.”

He said presenting the scholarships was a meaningful way to continue Mario’s legacy.

“It was a privilege to meet Satheesh, Yunfei, Jude and Shyan and to hear their stories,” he said.

“Each of them has shown remarkable strength, resilience and belief in their future.

“My father would have been incredibly proud to see his name associated with a program that gives people a chance to build a career, a livelihood and a future in this industry.

“Building and construction can offer people long-term opportunity, stability and purpose. Through these scholarships, we are proud to support the next generation of industry professionals and help create a more inclusive and resilient future for the sector.”