A trio of Inland Rail Skills Academy graduates have used their new-found skills to find employment with Inland Rail contractor Martinus Rail and make their own contributions to the project.

The three graduates – Brett Whyman, Lawrence Button and Hamilton Currie – completed a five-week Certificate II in Rail Infrastructure course through the Inland Rail Skills Academy earlier this year.

"The Inland Rail Skills Academy appealed to me because it gave me an opportunity to put my foot in the door and start in the rail industry," Brett Whyman said.

The course, provided by First Nations training provider Yakka Training, took place over five weeks in March and April in Wagga Wagga.

The graduates started work with Inland Rail contractor Martinus Rail and were assigned to the Stockinbingal to Parkes (S2P) section during the September possession, a 100-hour period where the rail line was closed and an intense period of construction took place.

“Brett, Lawrence and Hamilton have really shown how the Inland Rail Skills Academy is creating a solid pathway into employment which creates fantastic outcomes for employers and graduate," Inland Rail Executive Director of Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainability, Stephen Jones, said.

“We are proud to be able to help create a learning environment which leads directly into safe and effective employment for our graduates."

With their thorough training and preparation, the three were able to make positive contributions to the project, impressing their colleagues and leaders and, most importantly, working with safety front and centre of all that they did.

“We’ve had some really great feedback from Martinus Rail about our three Inland Rail Skills Academy graduates," Senior Program Skills and Training Advisor, Cathy Duncan said.

"They have a good understanding of safety, they’re switched on, they’re punctual, they pay attention to detail and they’ve been working really well within the teams they’re placed with.

“It’s been great to see them grow within their positions – the world’s their oyster and it’s up to them where they want to go from here."

Inland Rail is an approximately 1600km freight rail line that will connect Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, enhancing Australia’s national freight network and supply chain capabilities, connecting existing freight routes through rail, roads and ports, and supporting Australia’s growth.

The Inland Rail sections between Beveridge in Victoria and Parkes in New South Wales are prioritised for completion by 2027.

“The advice I’d give to locals about the Inland Rail Skills Academy is: go for it. It’s very rewarding once you get into the industry and the Inland Rail Skills Academy will help you with everything to get into the industry," Mr Whyman added.