5 March 2017

BMD provides local Indigenous employment on Kangaroo Island

Last week, BMD welcomed Mayor Peter Clements from Kangaroo Island Council, Susan Close, Minister for Education and Child Development, Higher Education and Skills, and Hon. Leon Bignall MP, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Forests, Tourism, Recreation and Sport, and Racing to the Kingscote Airport Upgrade project site on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. This presented an opportunity for a meet and greet to demonstrate the local employment opportunities being implemented on the island. Building on BMD’s founding philosophy to approach each project individually, actively identifying opportunities for local community engagement and participation that will provide beneficial outcomes for the project team, client and local community alike, BMD has proudly employed two local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the Kingscote Airport Upgrade project. BMD commenced airside works for the runway extension at Kingscote Airport in January, adding to our portfolio of works in air and landside works for clients operating airport infrastructure throughout Australia. The vital upgrade will allow for 100 to 120 seat regional jets, 85 seat turbo-prop Citiflyer type aircraft to establish direct flights between Sydney/Melbourne and Kangaroo Island, addressing the time and cost access challenges that are currently experienced by visitors. BMD proudly acknowledges the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our workforce and we have been working closely with the Adelaide Training & Employment Centre, the Department of State Development and TAFE South Australia to find the right candidates for the project’s available labouring positions. Senior Project Manager, Tim Bishop said that BMD prides itself on the importance of investment in people and the development of local communities. “BMD is committed to helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples find a pathway to the construction industry and creating a skilled and diverse workforce through labour employment opportunities. “Across the country BMD implements an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation policy in conjunction with an equity policy to provide employment based on the individual’s qualifications, past experience, ability to do the job required of them and the person’s commitment to undertake the best possible work. The employment of these two individuals is no different and BMD is looking forward to providing the fundamental skills and work experience required to prepare the employees for work beyond this project,” Tim said. BMD are proud of our partnership with the Clontarf Foundation which works to improve education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects of young Aboriginal men. This partnership has seen the establishment of a site visit program, which provides opportunities for young Indigenous men from the program to learn about construction environments and career opportunities. With one of these employees having graduated high school in Alice Springs with the support of the Clontarf Foundation, BMD is proud to support the organisation and see firsthand, the results of participants including employment and career opportunities. Having received many accolades for training and industry participation over our 37 year history, BMD prides our success on our relationship based model of doing business and investment in local communities and people. BMD is proud to assist in building a skilled and capable civil construction industry workforce in remote locations like Kangaroo Island. Photo caption: Mayor Peter Clements (Mayor, Kangaroo Island Council), Hon. Leon Bignell MP (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Forests, Tourism, Recreation and Sport, and Racing) and Susan Close MP (Minister for Education and Child Development, Higher Education and Skills) with new BMD employees. Photo taken by Daniel Clarke, Ninti Media    

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