Australia’s Western Sydney Airport (WSA) has opened the Connectivity Center – a facility to lead members of the local community to sustainable jobs on the construction of the new airport.
The Connectivity Center opened in nearby town Penrith, and will be run by WSA’s terminal construction contractor Multiplex. It will offer employment support agencies a physical space to work collaboratively to provide long-term employment solutions.
Western Sydney Airport has workforce targets to guarantee jobs on the project for Western Sydney locals; learning workers such as trainees and apprentices; and diverse workers, including Indigenous workers and people from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds. The center will therefore include First Nations support services, migrant and refugee services, services for people without homes, as well as charity groups and schools.
Simon Hickey, CEO of Western Sydney Airport, said, “Our commitment to Western Sydney goes further than building an airport. The Western Sydney Airport Connectivity Center is about supporting the most vulnerable people in our community by providing a wrap-around service that builds their skills, confidence and experience so they not only get a job, but find sustainable, long-term employment.”
Kristy Masella, managing director at non-profit organization Aboriginal Employment Strategy, said, “The Connectivity Center model is next-generation thinking, providing a truly holistic service that is unparalleled.”
David Ghannoum, regional managing director at Multiplex, said, “The Western Sydney Airport Connectivity Center was about building a positive social legacy as well as an airport terminal. There are many fantastic organizations doing an excellent job in our community but often they are working in isolation. The Connectivity Center will provide a tailored service designed to suit the individual needs of each jobseeker to break down the barriers and obstacles they have experienced in seeking sustainable employment.”