Roslyn Harley, First Nations Engagement Manager, and Ben Hasler, Justice Reintegration Team Leader, travelled to Albany in Perth, Western Australia to engage with the community at the Great Southern Deadly Careers Expo, meet with our Programmed Facility Management team members in Albany, and connect with Wagyl Kaip Traditional Owner, Lindsay Dean.
The theme of the visit was to explore employment and apprenticeship opportunities for First Nations people in the Great Southern and to support the Albany team in connecting with more First Nations businesses.
Lindsay Dean, a member of the Wadjemup Aboriginal Reference Group and an active contributor to the Great Southern community in various roles, shared valuable insights into the barriers young people face in securing employment and apprenticeships in the region.
At the expo, Roslyn, Ben, and team members from our Albany office engaged with over 300 high school students from across the Great Southern. Positioned prominently at the front with an array of giveaways, our stall attracted strong interest throughout the day. For many students, it was their first opportunity to interact with potential employers and begin exploring post-school career options.
Our team also connected with a wide range of businesses and employers at the event, including Rio Tinto, Curtin University and the Defence Forces.
Ben also took part in a panel discussion hosted by Ernie Dingo, where he shared his journey and spoke about the challenges Indigenous people can face in the workplace. Later, he was interviewed on Great Southern Radio 100.9, where he highlighted the work Programmed Facility Management is doing in the region and encouraged anyone interested in employment opportunities to get in touch with the Albany office.
The visit concluded with a toolbox breakfast meeting with Michael Hardman and the team, focusing on safety issues such as hand injuries and site security. Given the heavy rainfall across the Great Southern, they also held a timely safety pause on driving in wet weather conditions.
The team had an engaging discussion around apprenticeships, employment, increasing engagement with First Nations businesses, and exploring opportunities for business growth in the region.
It was a productive and energising trip, providing valuable insights and strengthening connections across the Great Southern.
