By Casey Neill
A simple shipping container is giving struggling students a leg-up and informing the community.
Eighteen students aged 15 to 27 are carrying out construction, carpentry and painting in Dandenong South with guidance from mentors and supervisors from TRY Build.
When they’ve finished transforming the 40-foot shipping container it will be moved to Noble Park and used as an information hub for the Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project.
There’ll be internal stairs and a rooftop observation deck.
Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams checked out their progress on Monday 20 March.
TRY Build falls under the umbrella of TRY Australia and is one of Australia’s longest-running social enterprises.
It takes on students who are disengaged and struggling to cope with mainstream education, and refugees in the process of building a new life.
They received on-the-job training alongside classroom learning to build their literacy and numeracy skills, and can work towards a recognised qualification in building and construction.
“We’re giving these students real-life, on-the-job training to keep them engaged and build their skills and confidence,” Ms Williams said.
“Their hard work will give locals a place to drop in and find out more about this massive project – which will remove nine dangerous and congested level crossings, so we can run more trains, more often to Dandenong.”
TRY Australia operations general manager Bill Bardsley said the students’ pride in the project, personal growth, and boosted self-esteem and confidence were priceless.
“This is a professional build they will show off to family and to their mates,” he said.
“When these young people start to back themselves, there is a ripple effect that extends out to parents, families, and to everyone around them.”
