Buraga Gul employment hub to create 7000 jobs, 10% Aboriginal representation

As the $790m Liverpool hospital upgrade continues, an employment hub is aiming to fill 7000 jobs — three out of four from the local area.

Liverpool locals looking for work now have a new training and employment hub connected to the $790m Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct.

The Buraga Gul Skilling & Employment Hub is a joint project between developers Lendlease, Liverpool City Council, Health Infrastructure and South Western Sydney Local Health District, TAFE NSW and Aboriginal Employment Strategy.

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun; Raz Favotto, Lendlease; Kristy Masella, Aboriginal Employment Strategy; Celeste Dargan, Lendlease at the Buraga Gul opening in Liverpool. Picture: Paul Brescia

Translating to ‘rise above’ in the Darug language, the hub has set a goal of more than 7000 workers in the hospital, both during construction, and when it opens.

From that figure, 75 per cent are aiming to be from the local community, and 10 per cent from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.

Lendlease workforce and industry participation manager, Celeste Dargan, drove the creation of the hub, having joined the company in September.

Celeste Dargan, Workforce and Industry Participation Manager, Lendlease at the Buraga Gul employment hub. Picture: Paul Brescia

Born and raised in Green Valley, Ms Dargan said she was excited to work back in her own community.

“I want the community to know that when they walk through the hub that they will be supported,” Ms Dargan said.

“We’re not doing anything tokenistic. Everything that we do is authentic, it’s backed by real resources and people that believe in the concept of what the hub is trying to do in this community.”

Ms Dargan said her grandmother was a member of the local Land Council, adding to what it meant to be able to run the program in her community.

“There is always going to be a focus on Aboriginal participation specifically for me, being an Aboriginal woman,” Ms Dargan said.

Celeste Dargan said each leaf on the Tree of Opportunity represents a person that has been helped by the hub. Picture: Paul Brescia

Kristy Masella is CEO of Aboriginal Employment Strategy, a national Aboriginal recruitment and group training company, and one of the partners on the Buraga Gul hub.

She said the barriers that people face in entering the workforce can be complex, from issues of access to quality childcare, to skill gaps, or literacy/numeracy issues.

“We’re focused on supporting Aboriginal women into work here as well,” Ms Masella said.

“It could be getting access to great childcare, and other support at home to enable people to hold down a job and work.

“We’ve worked with people that have had involvement with the criminal justice system, supporting careers for people to have a second chance.”

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun said the ripple effect of the training centre will make a massive difference in people’s lives, and that it will ensure infrastructure investments benefit locals.

“From this building here, people’s lives will be able to change,” Mayor Mannoun said.

“It’s important that when there is a billion dollar infrastructure project, the tide lifts for all of us.”