Roadshow sparks fresh interest in construction

Peta Lewin, Ruby Atkins, Tennyson Cashman, Joshua Nagle, Jessica Wilcox, Renesh Kodikara, Lucas Asciak and Jared Wilson.

A career in civil construction is now top-of-mind for high school students across local schools.

Through the Regional Industry Education Partnerships program (RIEP), global construction company ACCIONA attended Penola Catholic College for the Western Sydney Schools Roadshow last week.

"The Western Sydney Schools Roadshowinitiative reflects ACCIONA's commitment to strengthening the pipeline of future talent in western Sydney," said Tim Orpen, ACCIONA Design and Construction Director.

"By engaging directly with high school students, we are helping them understand the scale, complexity, and purpose of major infrastructure projects, and the breadth of career pathways they open - particularly in STEM and in multidisciplinary projects.

"Bringing immersive digital and VR technologies into the classroom at Penola Catholic College, the host school for the program, enables students to experience first-hand how engineering, construction, and innovation come together to shape a major infrastructure project like Western Harbour Tunnel.

ACCIONA view this collaboration with the Department of Education as an investment in both the schooling community and the long- term capability of our industry.

Careers Advisor at Penola Catholic College Peta Lewin said this workshop has opened doors for students and the construction industry alike.

"ACCIONA has been really forward-thinking in engaging with wider communities by having RIEP organise these events," Lewin stated.

"They are being very proactive in attracting young people into their industry by showing them the possibilities, and they are exposing young people to what is possible for them."

One student who benefitted from the workshop was Penola school captain Lucas Asciak, who hopes to pursue a role that combines academics with manual work after finishing high school.

"We got to speak to an engineer who works for ACCIONA today; he was very helpful," Lucas said.

"We got to play around with the interactive board looking at the scheme of the Sydney Harbour Tunnel operation.

"We also had a play around with some of the virtual reality headsets."

The experience opened the students' eyes to opportunities available in western Sydney.

"The construction industry is very active and open and they're searching for people to help out," Lucas said.

"Having this opportunity has exposed me to the pathways that are out there - especially in the construction industry."