From classroom to career: a week in Infrastructure

As part of the commitment to the Victorian Government’s Major Project Skills Guarantee (MPSG), the M80 Ring Road Completion project hosted a week-long work experience program for secondary school students. Designed with a strong focus on local schools, the program offered 9 participants a rare opportunity to explore the diverse career pathways available in the infrastructure sector.

Coordinated by the M80 Ring Road Diversity and Inclusion and Training teams, the program ran over 5 days and combined presentations, interactive activities, and site visits. Students engaged with professionals from a wide range of areas including Human Resources, IT, Environment and Sustainability, Health and Safety, Design and Engineering, Communications as well as Government Policy. A highlight was a site walk at a major bridge location, where students saw first hand the scale and complexity of works underway.

Participants also heard from recent trainees who shared their experiences and career journeys, highlighting multiple entry points into the industry beyond university, including apprenticeships and traineeships. These stories broadened students’ understanding of the opportunities available and made clear that there is no single pathway into infrastructure careers.

At the end of the week, students presented their key learnings and reflections, helping to identify strong potential candidates for future school based and post school opportunities. The program successfully built awareness, inspired career aspirations, and reinforced our, along with construction partners Acciona, Maca and Aecom’s shared commitment to education, inclusion, and developing the next generation of infrastructure professionals.