A former civil construction trainee who honed his skills on the METRONET Ellenbrook Line is progressing in leaps and bounds and is on his way to a successful career in construction.
21-year-old Lachlan Scanlan started a Certificate III in Civil Construction in mid-2022 working across various sites on the Ellenbrook Line including Whiteman Park, Ballajura and Morley stations and the Bennett Brook Bridge.
Lachlan hard at work at the Hazelmere yard.
His traineeship with Laing O'Rourke was possible due to a partnership between MELConnx (the Alliance between Laing O'Rourke and the Public Transport Authority delivering the METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line Project) and charitable organisation Nudge which partners with companies to source, support and mentor trainees on infrastructure projects.
Lachlan quickly impressed colleagues and superiors alike with his drive and throughout the 15-month traineeship, he was awarded 2024 Apprentice of the Year, 2023 Nudge Young Achiever Award and acquired eight tickets including telehandler, roller, gas test atmosphere, watercart and loader.
Armed with great experience and skills, Lachlan now has a job on the Swan River Crossings project at the Fremantle Bridge Alliance. The project is replacing the ageing Fremantle Traffic Bridge with Australia’s first bridge mixing two clever engineering styles (cantilevers and cable supports) creating a striking gateway to Fremantle.
Lachlan with Matt Paki, Nudge NGO Partnerships Manager
Lachlan works at the precast yard in Hazlemere on general labouring duties and has already added working in confined spaces, working at heights and load moving tickets to his ever-growing list of qualifications.
"Working on the METRONET Ellenbrook Line project was a life-changing opportunity that set the foundation for my career in construction. This journey has shown me the power of hard work and the impact of a team that invests in its people," Lachlan said.
Through its program of works and Sustainability Strategy, METRONET is proud to support workforce training and apprenticeships and local employment opportunities that are diverse and inclusive.