LXRP's Industry Capability and Inclusion team, Western Program Alliance and Nerdu Badji Education
Nerdu Badji Education, an Aboriginal-owned consultancy led by Tiffany Hunter, a Taungurung woman, specializes in mentoring and employment support services. Engaged by Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP), they deliver the mentoring component of EPIC, an 18-month program for refugee and asylum seeker engineers on major transport infrastructure projects.
EPIC provides hands-on training, mentorship, and completion of a Graduate Certificate in Infrastructure Engineering Management from Swinburne University. The program aims to facilitate integration into the industry for new Australians, offering industry exposure and connections to overcome barriers to professional roles.
Mentoring is crucial in assisting cadets with workplace acclimatization and soft skills development. Nerdu Badji Education has overseen 3 cycles of EPIC, providing personalized support and guidance to all cadets through a structured framework, earning praise from both mentors and cadets.
A close partnership between LXRP's Industry Capability and Inclusion team, Western Program Alliance (WPA), and Nerdu Badji Education has facilitated program refinement based on feedback, enhancing NBE's capabilities and expanding their opportunities in the rail construction sector. WPA's continued procurement of NBE's mentoring program demonstrates their commitment to NBE's sustained growth in the business landscape.