Aboriginal students skill-up on construction at Nepean Hospital

Five new Aboriginal high school students have joined the Nepean Hospital Redevelopment Stage 1 team as part of a successful training and mentorship program that provides a career pathway into the construction industry.

The Diz Footprints program offers Western Sydney Year 10 Aboriginal students work experience across a range of construction trades at the Nepean Redevelopment site, helping them secure Certificate II construction qualification and post-school employment.

The students were selected for the second round of the program which provides a unique opportunity to work on one of the state’s biggest hospital infrastructure projects.

The announcement follows the success of the first round of Year 10 students in 2019, who are now undertaking their second year on site, alongside the new recruits.

The five students are from St Clair, Cambridge Park, Glenmore Park and Kingswood high schools. The Diz Footprints team, which includes local Aboriginal education consultants and construction contractors, CPB, selected the students for the program’s second round.

The students will receive first-hand experience from professionals working across a wide range of trades such as landscaping, painting, carpentry and general labouring.

See more information about the program.