Western Sydney’s new airport has recently opened the Western Sydney Airport Connectivity Centre, which provides opportunities for local communities to access sustainable jobs on the project.
The Western Sydney Airport Connectivity Centre officially opened in Penrith on 21 March, and is a one-stop shop providing holistic support to jobseekers by coordinating a range of services to help them into sustainable employment. These include First Nations support services, migrant and refugee services, services for people without homes, as well as charity groups, schools and all three levels of government.
Western Sydney Airport (WSA) CEO, Simon Hickey, said the Centre will be run by WSA’s terminal construction contractor Multiplex and will offer jobseekers the opportunity to help build the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport passenger terminal.
“Our commitment to Western Sydney goes further than building an airport,” Mr Hickey said.
“We want to ensure Western Sydney International drives generational change and social uplift, creating opportunities for those who need it most and setting them up for success long after the airport is built.
“The Western Sydney Airport Connectivity Centre 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.”
WSA 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.
Mr Hickey said initiatives like the Connectivity Centre are just one of the ways the project continues to exceed its targets.
“We are committed to empowering our Western Sydney community to take advantage of the new era of jobs and opportunities the airport will deliver to their doorstep,” Mr Hickey said.
Multiplex Regional Managing Director, David Ghannoum, said the Western Sydney Airport Connectivity Centre was about building a positive social legacy as well as an airport terminal.
“There are many fantastic organisations doing an excellent job in our community but often they are working in isolation,” Mr Ghannoum said.
The Western Sydney Airport Connectivity Centre is the fourteenth Connectivity Centre established by Multiplex and will offer employment support agencies a physical space to come together to work collaboratively to find solutions, not only getting people into sustainable employment but supporting them at every step of the way.
“These may be people who have never had a job, or never even had a job interview. The Connectivity Centre 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.”
Aboriginal Employment Strategy Managing Director, Kristy Masella, said the initiative would lead to life-changing outcomes for people in Western Sydney.
“The Connectivity Centre model is next generation thinking, providing a truly holistic service that is unparalleled,” Ms Masella said.
