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INLINK INLAND RAIL - PARKES TO NARROMINE
Month Project Duration
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Protech Employees Supplied
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Civil Construction Trainees
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Collaborating with InLink, the Fulton Hogan and BMD Constructions joint venture, Protech supplied over 60 civil labourers to the Inland Rail project from 2019 to 2020. The $300 million project involved the upgrade of nearly 100km of existing rail track between Parkes and Narromine, acting as the final link between South East Queensland, Adelaide, and Perth.
About The Project
One of the key aims for the project was to maximise participation in local businesses and job seekers. In total, more than 1,800 people worked on the Parkes to Narromine project, including more than 760 local residents, and over $100 million was spent with 99 local and Indigenous businesses, providing a significant boost to the local economy.
Recruiting Quality People
With the project spanning a vast regional area, there was a shortage in the number of local candidates with civil or rail experience. This challenge was overcome by focusing on sourcing candidates with transferable skills and experience, including from regional solar farms, fencing, plant operations, and mining industries.
By doing so, it meant that Protech met the demand for labourers and operators in a number of required roles, including:
- Site Clearing
- Vegetation & Environmental Controls
- Plant Spotters
- Stabilising Works
- New Track – Preparation
- Culverts
- Drainage
- Roller Works
- Administration Staff
- Community Liaison
- Peggies
The project requirements also stipulated specific client inductions and processes as part of employee onboarding. All team members engaged in the Rail Industry Worker (RIW) process, online inductions for both ARTC and InLink, and site inductions.
Protech Certified
Protech Certification is an extensive selection process that ensures only the best applicants make it through to client projects. When you see the Protech Certified badge, you can trust that you’re getting the best person for your project.
Local Traineeships
One major initiative for this project was to maximise participation by local job seekers. To ensure a positive outcome was delivered, we engaged with the local Wiradjuri people. By working alongside the Wiradjuri people and several community groups, we were able to recruit, employ, upskill and provide ongoing work to many local Indigenous people. Additionally, Protech worked with Supply Nation Registered Dreampath Recruitment, and placed five Indigenous candidates in a 12 month traineeship, where they completed their Certificate III in Civil Construction.
The support provided by Protech during the project did not stop at the recruitment phase and ongoing pastoral care was provided throughout the duration of the Parkes to Narromine project. This included mentoring and safety management to ensure trainees were equipped with support they needed to succeed during the project and throughout the remainder of their working career.
Women in Non-Traditional Roles
Providing a pathway for women to enter the civil construction industry was also an important initiative to ensure successful delivery of the project. Protech worked with local women in the community who were open to employment, and provided support and training to develop their skillset in the civil construction industry, as most had little to no previous experience.
Overall, this initiative was successfully implemented by selecting applicants who had demonstrated the drive to learn and develop new skills. Alongside their desire to learn and upskill in an industry they had little experience in, Protech was able to share our extensive knowledge, offering support and training over the duration of the project.
The Outcome
Protech placed more than 60 employees on the Parkes to Narromine section of the Inland Rail project, developing a positive professional relationship with long-standing clients Fulton Hogan and BMD Constructions. With diversity and local sourcing being a key focus, a 10% female workforce was retained throughout the duration of the project, as well as 85% of employees living within a 100km radius of the project site.
The InLink Inland Rail – Parkes to Narromine project was successfully completed in 2020, and acts as a major piece of Australian infrastructure, critical to shaping the future of transport.
