Encouraging young Victorians to pursue a career in the civil construction industry, the Andrews Labor Government’s regional road maintenance blitz is making a significant investment into supporting apprentices across the state.

Meeting with future roadworkers in Ballarat today, Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said this year’s regional road maintenance program is providing opportunities for 11 apprentices right across regional Victoria.

From bases in Ballarat, Bendigo, Horsham, Swan Hill, Bairnsdale and Avoca, these apprentices work alongside experienced teams from the Department of Transport’s in-house crews to build their knowledge in road rebuilding, repairs, resurfacing, sealing and line marking.

In addition to this first-hand experience out on the network, the apprentices attend in-person and online classroom sessions, working towards attaining their Certificate III in Civil Construction via SkillInvest.

The qualification will allow the apprentices to work in road maintenance, road construction and other prominent civil construction projects right across Australia.

More broadly, the Labor Government’s regional road maintenance blitz is keeping communities connected with education, employment, family, and friends by delivering more than 1,050 individual road maintenance projects right across regional Victoria.

Crews are also busy mowing thousands of kilometres of roadside grass and repairing and replacing more than 7,000 roadside signs.

This significant investment continues to deliver for regional economies, keeping motorists safe, and farmers, manufacturers, and freight operators connected with trade opportunities and supporting jobs right across the supply chain, from workers on the ground through to suppliers based right across the state.

Since 2018, more than 6,800 kilometres of roads have been rebuilt and resurfaced across the state.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll

“Our road maintenance blitz is not only ensuring that our regional road network is safer and more reliable for drivers – it’s also opening the door for young Victorians to enter the civil construction industry.”

“We’re helping young regional Victorians develop skills that will set them up for life and ensuring that these vital skills remain in regional communities.”