The Construction Diaries - Building Foundations for the Future

The Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council (CPSISC), is committed to the inclusion of all equity groups identified by governments. For example, Indigenous Australians, people in remote areas, people from non-English speaking backgrounds, women in non traditional roles and people with a disability. CPSISC have contracted a number of organisations, including MITAC, to assist them with projects that will meet the objectives of their diversity strategy. MITAC's project will specifically target participants of a construction pre-employment program in the Katherine region (remote).

Project Overview

'The Construction Diaries - Building Foundations for the Future' project is an on-line web diary that will follow the progress of an Indigenous pre-employment training program in construction.

The aim of the diary will be to raise awareness of the issues, both positive and negative surrounding training Indigenous Australians from regional and remote areas for careers in the construction industry.

The diary will consist of:

• participant profiles outlining their background, and reasons why they are interested in pursuing training / a career in the construction industry
• weekly entries following the progress of participants
• interviews with participants, trainers and guest speakers at various points throughout the program
• photos and video footage

In addition to promoting the program, various tension points will be tracked on-line as they occur. Strategies used by stakeholders to try to overcome difficulties will be analysed as well as any lessons learnt.

The Registered Training Organisation who will be delivering the program is Industries Services Training (IST). IST is one of the largest private providers of training in the Northern Territory, and a major provider of construction related training in regional and remote areas.

The web diary is currently being developed with the assistance of Greywacke Designs, a local Darwin based web designer / developer.

The diary will be accessible from the 27th of July 2009. Details will be posted on this page.

For further information about the project contact Michelle Bailey on (08) 89810077, or michelle@mitac.org.au