A new initiative is helping children from refugee and migrant backgrounds to learn more about the construction industry and the Hopkins Road Level Crossing Removal Project.
The level crossing project team partnered with Edmund Rice Community Services during the recent school holidays to host a site visit for about 30 children from diverse backgrounds.
As part of the visit, the children, aged 5 to 13 years old, learned about the different types of jobs on a construction site, and got some firsthand experience on a site walk where they were able to get up close to several big machines.
The group was then able to put their new-found knowledge into action, taking part in building blocks activities and constructing a new road bridge out of cardboard and green straws.
Mark Monahan, Edmund Rice Community Services State Lead, said the school holiday program was the first initiative the charity had developed for children with a construction focus.
“We are always looking for unique opportunities for the kids to connect with, and by visiting the Hopkins Road construction site, they learn about other opportunities out there,” Mr Monahan said.
Based in Mt Atkinson, Edmund Rice Community Services started in the 1980s to provide holiday camps for children and today runs a range of community benefit programs to support children, young people and their families.
Mr Monahan said he has seen firsthand how offering new experiences to refugee and migrant children could inspire new pathways and open the door to unexplored career opportunities.
“Going to something like this stimulates their thinking. For example, now when the children drive past a construction zone they might think, ‘maybe I could work there, so I’m going to go to school and try extra hard’. We know that small increments over time pay off,” he said.
Construction is progressing at Hopkins Road, with piling works recently completed. Over the next few months, crews will start to build the bridge piers, form the retaining walls and pour the bridge support wall. The bridge’s 27 giant support beams will be lifted into place later this year.
The dangerous and congested Hopkins Road level crossing will be gone for good and the new road bridge will open in 2026 – two years ahead of schedule.
A further 3 level crossings are set to go next year in Melbourne’s booming west, at Coburns, Exford and Ferris roads, Melton, and a new Melton Station will open to passengers in 2026.
