A practical guide to creating meaningful employment for young Aboriginal people

Building long-term economic opportunities for young Aboriginal people requires more than just a job offer, it takes commitment, collaboration and the right approach.

On the North East Link project, Major Road Project Victoria’s (MRPV) tunnelling partner, Spark Consortium, has partnered with the Willan Foundation to support young Aboriginal people entering the infrastructure industry through the Willan Program, a pre-employment initiative designed to set participants up for long-term success.

The Willan Foundation recognised that traditional labour hire models, which often involve short-term placements, were not the right approach to creating meaningful employment outcomes. Instead, the Willan Foundation and Spark were keen to identify long-term employment opportunities through the supply chain. The Willan Foundation developed a structured pre-employment program to ensure that the jobseekers had the right skills and support to succeed. The program focuses not only on technical training but also on building a culturally safe and supportive environment, addressing potential barriers to employment, and ensuring participants are set up for success.

A key factor in the success of the Willan Program is the guarantee of employment at the end of training. Spark Consortium and the Willan Foundation worked together to ensure that every participant had a clear pathway into the construction industry, with the necessary support to navigate their transition into the workforce. Recently, 14 participants completed the 10-week pre-employment program and went on to obtain a Certificate II in Civil Construction Pathways. On completion of the pre-employment program, they were offered employment with subcontractors working on the North East Link.

To share these insights and support other projects in creating sustainable employment pathways for Aboriginal communities, the Willan Foundation has developed the Willan Playbook. This practical resource captures key elements of the program, offering guidance for organisations looking to drive meaningful change.

Explore the Playbook (PDF, 1.3 MB) to learn more.