Nicole Appleton is not only breaking barriers as an Aboriginal business owner, but she is also leading the way with the only wholly Aboriginal female-owned plant hire business in Victoria, working across major transport infrastructure projects such as the Level Crossing Removal Project.
Starting as a truck driver for Armaguard as a 19-year-old, Nicole’s passion for construction grew, eventually leading her to set up NLA Trucking, a trucking and plant hire business that now has a long list of clients.
“We've got eight pieces of equipment now and we're looking at purchasing two more trucks. We've got about 100 subcontractors who work for us every day, and about 200 on the books,” Nicole said.
Over the years, NLA Trucking has worked on various projects across Melbourne, including the Monash Freeway upgrade, and more recently, the Level Crossing Removal Project’s Keon Parade level crossing removal project, supplying trucks to site most days.
Nicole said the company’s work on the Level Crossing Removal Project had been instrumental in providing guidance and support, as well as valuable insights that had helped NLA Trucking plan effectively for upcoming jobs.
As well as being a female-owned business, half of NLA’s workforce are women, a far cry from when Nicole started.
“When I first started driving, it took me six months before the guys on site would talk to me,” she said.
NLA Trucking continues to expand its operations with the goal of training more Indigenous employees and nurturing their growth within the business. The company has purchased a factory in Epping, aiming to engage with Indigenous communities in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, offering opportunities for involvement and self-growth.
“We work with an employment agency that specialises in finding opportunities for Indigenous people. Anybody who wants to learn, we will give them a job,” she said.
Speaking during October’s Indigenous Business Month, Nicole’s advice to other women and Indigenous community members who are looking to work in construction or start their own business is to try and break down barriers and be persistent.
“If nine out of ten people say no, the tenth will say yes, so just keep pushing and keep trying,” she said.
