Engineering, Freight Rail, Passenger Rail, Workforce, Certification & Training

Veterans involved in Vic’s crossing removals

The Victorian government’s Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project is partnering with Veterans in Construction to help put ex-military personnel back into the civilian workforce, making it the first major civil infrastructure project to do so.

Inspired by the Helmets to Hard Hats program in the United States, Veterans in Construction was co-founded in 2015 by David Cook and Dan Cairns to provide advice, mentoring, support, and connections for Australian veterans looking to get into construction work.

“It’s about providing a hand up to those returning personnel who are interested in construction careers and encouraging companies to see the benefits,” Cairns said.

Many veterans face great challenges securing employment after leaving the military, often due to the stigmas associated with active service, according to Cairns.

“It’s about overcoming some of those stigmas that potential employers may find, such as thinking that military personnel are ‘broken’, when often it’s not the case,” Cairns said.

Veterans in Construction seeks to remove these barriers and help veterans gain employment in an industry where their skills are highly desired.

The government has reported that the partnership is working out well for the Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project, and that the first five candidates from Veterans in Construction have impressed supervisors with their work ethic and initiative on the build site.

“The physical element and the culture of the experiences the guys have had previously fit well with the construction industry,” operations manager Simon Barnes said.

The Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Project — which is to remove nine level crossings and build five new stations in Melbourne’s south-east — is expected to be complete by the end of 2018.

1 Comment

  1. Why on Earth is there a stigma associated with active service?? Australians should be proud of the men and women having served their country. Not only should they be given opportunities to find work, but they should be prioritised.