Local Indigenous people are gaining skills and employment on South Australia’s largest ever road project, the South Road Superway, being delivered by the Urban Superway Joint Venture, of which John Holland is a Principal Contractor.

Over 30 Indigenous people have completed a Pre-Employment Program, having graduated in April 2011. Participants who successfully completed the program were offered employment on the major project.

In addition, and due to the program’s success, Urban Superway is currently recruiting skilled Indigenous people as Precast Mould Workers and skilled Labourers on the project.

The Pre-Employment Program, ‘Constructing Roads to a Bright Future’, was a 10 week, fulltime, five days a week course that provided specialised training, development and mentoring for Indigenous people.

“Urban Superway worked closely with the South Australian Government, through the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, to maximise training and employment opportunities for the local Indigenous community. As a result, we have regularly exceeded the Department’s 2 per cent Indigenous workforce participation target for the project,” said David Moran, General Manager, Southern Region, John Holland.

John Holland’s South Australian State Manager, Peter Gurd, said ‘Constructing Roads to a Bright Future’ set a high standard for future projects.

“What made the Indigenous Pre-Employment Program special was that it didn’t just focus on jobs and training. The team continues to provide mentoring and guidance to the employees, supporting them to reach their full potential and become successful both in the workplace and in their broader lives.”

“We have also regularly exceeded the 15 per cent wider workforce participation target designed to assist people identified with barriers to employment entry,” said Peter.

The South Road Superway Project is one of the first major projects in South Australia to be levied with a 15 per cent workforce participation target. This target is derived from the South Australian Government’s Workforce Participation Policy which requires South Road Superway contractors to engage local South Australians with barriers to sustainable employment.

The Urban Superway Joint Venture, comprising John Holland, Macmahon Contractors and Leed Engineering and Construction, has been engaged by South Australia’s Department for Transport Energy and Infrastructure to undertake the design and construction of the South Road Superway. The project is due for completion at the end of 2013.

For further media information please contact:
Richard Baker
External Communications Manager
Mobile: 0400 809 116
Email: richard.baker@jhg.com.au

Gillian Burrows
Group General Manager, Corporate Affairs
Mobile: 0404 453 189
Email: gillian.burrows@jhg.com.au

About John Holland
John Holland, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leighton Holdings Limited (ASX: LEI), is one of Australia's leading engineering, contracting and services providers to the infrastructure, energy and resources and transport services sectors. Operating across Australia and in New Zealand, South East Asia and the Middle East, John Holland's business is driven by its collaborative approach to project delivery and its diversity of skills and capabilities. Its operating principles - People, Performance, Partnerships and Profit – are a key focus in the way John Holland conducts its business.
John Holland's experience covers a wide range of contracting and services capabilities, from tunnelling, communications, building and civil construction solutions in the infrastructure sector to the delivery of major water and environment, energy, mining and minerals and industrial projects in the energy and resources sector. John Holland is also a leading provider of services to the transport sector, with industry leading skills in railway construction, operations and maintenance, aviation services and ports infrastructure and maintenance.
John Holland's strength lies in its ability to deliver diverse, complex and challenging major projects, its partnership approach to client relationships and absolute commitment to people and careers. John Holland has over 60 years experience, work in hand of over $7 billion and over 7,500 people across Australia.