Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney yesterday officially opened the new North East Link Skills and Jobs Centre at Watsonia that will be a one-stop-shop to connect locals to the 10,000 jobs that are available on the North East Link project, creating a pipeline of skilled workers to help build Victoria’s future. 

Jobseekers are invited to walk-in and explore exciting opportunities in areas like engineering and construction trades, traffic management, conservation land management and administration.  

The centre will also support employers and industry by connecting them with workers and provide opportunities to develop and expand. 

The North East Link project is the biggest road project in Victoria’s history, and is supported by the $33 million Big Build Apprenticeships program which will provide 1,500 opportunities to Victorian apprentices and trainees each year for four years to kickstart their careers on projects including the new Footscray Hospital and Warrnambool Learning and Library Hub. 

At least 10 per cent of the construction hours on these projects will be completed by apprentices and trainees, strengthening pathways from the classroom to the workforce.  

Additionally, 2.5 per cent of the workforce will be Aboriginal. 

Early works on North East Link have already provided job opportunities to 64 apprentices, trainees and cadets who have worked more than 70,000 hours. 

The Skills and Jobs Centre has been launched in partnership with Apprenticeships Victoria, which coordinates and oversees all aspects of the delivery of apprenticeships. 

Jobseekers can explore their options at the North East Link Skills and Jobs Centre between 10am – 5pm on weekdays at 17 Watsonia Rd, Watsonia. 

Once the North East Link is built, it will take 15,000 trucks off local roads and cut more than an hour off a return trip from the Eastern suburbs to the airport.