The Eastern Freeway Upgrades is providing First Nations people with meaningful employment and training opportunities thanks to a partnership with an Aboriginal-owned contractor.
Ten First Nations employees of Victorian-based Wamarra are currently working on the upgrades, one of Victoria’s biggest transport infrastructure projects.
Working in full-time capacities, the Wamarra team members are embedded within the project’s direct workforce in roles ranging from skilled labouring to plant operation.
The partnership with Wamarra provides long-term employment opportunities until the project’s completion, expected in 2028.
Each Wamarra team member also benefits from bespoke on-the-job training opportunities that align with their long-term career aspirations.
Wamarra has partnered across a range of Big Build projects in Victoria spanning civil and landscaping construction. Its involvement with the Eastern Freeway Upgrades highlights the company’s growing capability while creating sustainable careers for Aboriginal people.
Wamarra’s name, a Wiradjuri word meaning ‘to build’, reflects the company’s vision for the growth and development of Aboriginal people while contributing to the construction of Victoria’s infrastructure projects.
The Wamarra partnership reflects the Eastern Freeway Upgrades’ support for Aboriginal businesses to foster their empowerment and promote reconciliation and strengthen relationships between Indigenous and non-indigenous communities.