Southern Program Alliance and Navaroo
The Parkdale Level Crossing Removal Project not only improved safety and connectivity for the local community, but also demonstrated how infrastructure delivery can create social value through the supply chain.
Delivered by Southern Program Alliance (SPA) - comprising ACCIONA, WSP and Metro Trains Melbourne - the project partnered with social enterprise Navaroo to deliver a $3.8 million landscaping package.
At the time, Navaroo was a newly established social enterprise focused on creating employment pathways for refugees and new migrants entering the construction industry. SPA worked closely with Navaroo to support the partnership’s success, including adapting onboarding processes for culturally and linguistically diverse workers, providing flexible payment arrangements, and helping strengthen Navaroo’s capability.
In 2025, SPA and Navaroo received the National Social Procurement Impact Partnership Game Changer Award from Social Traders in recognition of the partnership’s impact.
Navaroo’s mission is closely tied to the lived experience of its co-founder, Hashan Senarathna, who migrated to Australia with extensive qualifications and industry experience but initially struggled to secure work aligned with his professional background. Together with co-director Chris Keay, Hashan established Navaroo to create pathways for other migrants and refugees facing similar barriers to employment.
Navaroo Director Nick Tasiopolous said Parkdale became a critical turning point for the organisation.
“Parkdale gave Navaroo the track record and credibility needed to pursue more complex opportunities,” Nick said.
Following the project, Navaroo secured further work across major Victorian infrastructure projects, including the Newport Level Crossing Removal Project.
The partnership also created opportunities for employees like Isuru Munasinghe. After arriving in Australia with more than 10 years of construction industry experience, Isuru struggled to secure local employment despite applying for hundreds of roles.
Through Navaroo, Isuru joined the Parkdale project as a Site Engineer, gaining experience in a Tier 1 infrastructure environment.
Since completing the project, Isuru has remained employed full-time with Navaroo and continues to work on major infrastructure projects across Victoria.
The partnership also created broader outcomes across the supply chain. Five skilled migrants received more than 3,800 hours of employment and 185 hours of training, while a 2 year landscaping maintenance program created longer-term employment pathways.
Navaroo also partnered with social enterprise Connecting2Ability (C2A) to deliver the ongoing landscaping maintenance program, directly supporting employment for three people with disability. The collaboration emerged through connections made at the Frankston Social Enterprise & Innovation Hub, demonstrating how one social procurement opportunity can create broader sector impact.
SPA Industry Capability and Inclusion Advisor Nancy Zele said the project challenged traditional assumptions about supplier capability by demonstrating that social enterprises can deliver commercially while also creating broader community outcomes.
The Parkdale partnership demonstrated how infrastructure delivery can create lasting social and economic impact beyond the project itself.