The contractor’s civil and mining pre-employment program, known as Powerup, achieved the 250-graduate milestone with 47-year-old Neil Mourambine, who described the experience as a major step in turning his life around.

Born in Mullewa, east of Geraldton, Mourambine is from Wadjarri country in Western Australia. He moved with his mother and step-father to Port Hedland at a young age.

“I have lived and worked as a gardener and labourer in Port Hedland, and as a stockman at the Yandeyarra Station southeast of Port Hedland for 10 years,” he said.

“My defacto died at a very young age – 35 years old – and before she died I promised her I’d stop drinking and smoking if I ever got sick like her.

“After 30 years I gave it all up when I was diagnosed with diabetes to keep my promise to her.”

Mourambine says he focused on improving his health before looking for work.

Through a local indigenous employment group, Mourambine picked up a few weeks’ monitoring work when he was approached by NRW as a potential candidate for Powerup.

“I quite enjoyed it when I jumped on the machines and started working for NRW,” he said.

“I’m on the rollers, and in time I’ll move onto another machine.

“It’s beautiful. I enjoy it a lot. I’ll be here for a long time more.”

In operation since 2008, Powerup aims to provide opportunities for indigenous candidates lacking entry level skills to break into the civil and mining industries.

NRW says Mourambine’s story is similar to many of Powerup’s other graduates, noting that participants of the program are guaranteed employment with NRW upon graduation.

The program’s track record marks 88% of graduates finding employment with the company.

“We give participants hands-on activities such as driving haul trucks and rollers, which is empowering,” NRW Civil and Mining managing director Willie Rooney said.

Rooney said that while previous graduates could now be found on sites across the country, recent Powerup programs had been tailored to the traditional owners of the area surrounding the Roy Hill Project.

“Participants are trained onsite at the Roy Hill rail project between Port Hedland and Newman, and courses are held for both traditional landowners and other indigenous people,” he said.

“The modified course allows local indigenous people to take part in the program and share in the benefits of a major infrastructure project on their traditional lands.”

At least two Powerup programs have been planned for Roy Hill in addition to the general Powerup programs that have already been held out of Perth.

NRW employs some 1768 people directly and 619 contractors, including an industry-leading 9.1% indigenous participation.