Locals from Cootamundra in New South Wales have landed full-time jobs with John Holland on the Inland Rail Illabo to Stockinbingal section after completing the Inland Rail Skills Academy’s Rail Readiness course.
Delivered in partnership with Yakka Training, the three-day Rail Readiness program trains participants for careers in rail and construction.
The course focuses on safety, mental fitness, psychosocial hazards, workplace readiness, and being fit for duty in the rail industry.
Among the newly-employed local residents is Gwen Norman, who has joined the project as a Community Liaison Officer.
Norman has previously worked in education, mining, events and community volunteering and took the opportunity to contribute to a major infrastructure initiative in her hometown.
“We are participating in an exceptional opportunity,” she said. “To be part of a major national project with John Holland is exciting and enlivening for the community.
“It is satisfying to see the community embracing and welcoming the whole John Holland team.”
Todd Bryant has stepped into the role of Logistics Coordinator after showing “strong leadership and mentoring capabilities” throughout the course. He previously ran his own construction business in the region.
“I was ready for a new challenge and wanted to be part of something iconic like the Inland Rail project happening here in my hometown,” he said.
“I’d done plenty of training over my 25 years in the building industry, so I expected the Rail Readiness course to be much the same, but it ended up being a real turning point for me.
“It pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me a new perspective, which led me to join the team at John Holland and helped me grow both personally and professionally.”
Stephen Jones, Inland Rail Executive Director of Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainability, said: “The rail sector offers rewarding and long-term career opportunities, and we’re committed to ensuring regional communities benefit from this project.
“We’re proud of the employment outcomes achieved so far and the strong local connections we’re building.
“Since the project began, Inland Rail has created more than 1800 jobs for local residents across New South Wales.”
