CPB Contractors, in partnership with Suburban Rail Loop Authority and the Victorian Tunnelling Centre in Melbourne, has launched the inaugural Tools of the Trade (TOTT) Industry Development Program as part of its involvement in the Suburban Connect consortium. This program aims to foster skilled and diverse workforces for the SRL East project.
The inclusive, 10-day program focuses on providing practical, hands-on training to cadets and trainees. The first cohort of participants came from various backgrounds, joining through organizations like Career Seekers, Career Trackers, Jesuit Social Services’ JustWorks recruitment service, and Monash University’s BEST initiative.
Tracey Henderson, CPB Contractors’ Operations Services Manager, highlights the program’s goal of creating opportunities for individuals from all walks of life. “It’s encouraging to see that our inaugural cohort achieved a 50:50 gender split while also providing a platform for First Nations people, refugees, asylum seekers, youth, and neurodiverse participants to gain skills for the construction industry,” she says.
Participants in the program developed competencies in various areas, including operating scissor lifts and rollers, site preparation processes, fixing drainpipes, and completing the Australian Tunnelling Society’s Bulletproof Performance program, which focuses on enhancing communication skills.
As part of its SRL East Tunnels South package delivery, CPB Contractors is committed to ensuring that at least 12 percent of the total hours worked on the project are carried out by trainees, apprentices, and cadets, with at least one-third of these roles designated for women. The SRL East project is also set to create up to 8,000 direct local jobs.
“Currently, more than 1,500 people are already contributing to this transformative project,” Tracey explains. “The TOTT program is just one way we’re building capacity for newcomers to the construction industry, benefiting both the state and the broader industry for years to come.”
CPB Contractors is dedicated to promoting gender equality and creating safe, inclusive, and diverse workplaces with equal career opportunities. This commitment is reflected in the company’s Gender Equality Action Plan, Reconciliation Action Plan, Veteran Strategy and Action Plan, ABSE Playbook, and the signing of the Veterans’ Employment Commitment (VEC) as part of the Australian Government’s Veteran Employment Program.
The SRL East project involves the construction of six underground stations and 26 km of twin tunnels. As part of the Tunnels South contract, CPB Contractors and its Suburban Connect consortium partners will build 16 km of twin tunnels between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley, two underground station boxes, and complete construction works at the train stabling facility in Heatherton.
