The Ballan Road Intersection Upgrade is not only improving safety and connectivity for Wyndham Vales’ growing community but also creating opportunities for local social benefit suppliers through the project supply chain.
Delivered in partnership with Symal Infrastructure, the project has engaged social enterprise Goddess Cleaning Group to provide cleaning services for the site office. What began as standard office cleaning has since expanded to include sanitary bin servicing, supporting the growth of Goddess Cleaning Group’s service offering and capability.
Goddess Cleaning Group is a registered social enterprise focused on creating supportive and flexible employment opportunities for people experiencing disadvantage, including women rebuilding their lives after family violence.
Founder Stacey Barrass established the business after experiencing family violence herself and has built the organisation around creating pathways to financial independence, confidence and long-term stability for others facing similar barriers.
Through work opportunities created on major infrastructure projects, including Ballan Road and previously the Pakenham Roads Upgrade, Goddess Cleaning Group has been able to grow both its workforce capability and the impact it delivers within the community.
Stacey shared that infrastructure project-based work has helped team members increase their working hours from 6 hours to as many as 20 hours per week, creating greater financial stability for their families. For some employees, this has meant being able to afford milestones that were previously out of reach, including sending children on school camp for the first time and purchasing new clothes rather than relying on donated items.
The work has also helped employees build confidence and develop practical workplace skills. Several team members strengthened their English language skills through regular interaction on site, enabling them to take on additional work opportunities across other locations in Melbourne.
The local nature of the work has also enabled employees to remain connected to their communities and families, with some workers able to access sites via public transport and balance employment with school drop-offs and pick-ups.
Through the Victorian Government’s Social Procurement Framework, projects like the Ballan Road Intersection Upgrade seek to create broader social value by increasing participation of social benefit suppliers in the infrastructure supply chain. Partnerships like this show how infrastructure delivery can create lasting community outcomes alongside essential transport improvements.
Find out more about the Ballan Road Intersection Upgrade.
Read about social procurement in transport infrastructure projects.