Western Sydney Airport (WSA) is improving the skills of almost a third of the workforce (30%) involved in building Australia’s newest airport, through a series of training programs and of learning.
WSA offers several training initiatives, including internships for high school graduates and opportunities for university graduates to kick-start their careers, as well as pre-employment programs with Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and the Organization of Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIRO) to inspire secondary school students in Western Sydney are embarking on careers in aviation and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
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Simon Hickey, CEO of Western Sydney Airport (WSA), said the initial aim was to train workers to make up 20% of the workforce, and confirmed the airport would create new training opportunities as terminal construction ramps up and once runway construction begins. Later this year.
“We are focused on preparing our workforce for success wherever their career takes them after WSA, which is why we are passionate about on-the-job development and training. Our commitment to the region goes beyond job creation. We want to ensure that Western Sydney International stimulates generational change by stimulating the development of local skills beyond the construction of the airport and for decades to come. WSA is about more than building an airport – it’s about empowering our community to take advantage of the new era of jobs and opportunity the airport will bring to their doorstep,” said Hikey.
Alieu Turay, a resident of North Parramatta, joined WSA’s earthmoving team in 2020 when he was new to the Australian construction industry, having arrived in Australia as a refugee from Sierra Leone. Through training programs offered by WSA’s leading earthmoving contractor, CPB Contractors and joint venture Acciona, Turay has gone from laborer to roller operator and now operates a CAT651 scraper, one of the largest earthmoving machines on the market. place, as well as completing a Certificate IV in Occupational Health and Safety.
Turay said: “As a beneficiary of the opportunities this project creates for the community in Western Sydney, I am proud to be working on one of the largest earthworks projects Australia has ever seen and grateful that such an opportunity is at my doorstep. I am learning skills and gaining qualifications on this project which will open up new career opportunities for me in the future.
Likewise, Quakers Hill local Samantha Salkeld transitioned from high school to designing an international airport, joining the airport design team as part of WSA’s intern program and taking up full-time work. while gaining a TAFE qualification.
Salkeld said: “This is my first job after high school and I have the opportunity to help design an international airport, using design to show the world what Western Sydney is like. This is an amazing career opportunity and it will be amazing in 2026 when the airport opens to say “I helped build this”.
