Sphere No.46 (Mar 2019)

Sphere #46 2019 19 >> While small by energy project standards, it had a big impact on the community. Many long-term unemployed found themselves back at work with all the benefits that implied for the community. Many who had little to no experience got a toehold in the construction industry and even became licensed. Some who had their ‘ticket’ (i.e. licence) were able to get the hours needed to become fully qualified, and went on to work at other projects in the region, like the Kennedy Energy Park, also in the Shire of Flinders. People who came in at entry level, like former nurse Jonathon, aka “Big Jon”, moved up to become supervisors based on their excellent work. Some even packed their bags and headed south to work on a much bigger Beon project – the 112 MW Karadoc Solar Farm in faraway Mildura. Knockknock, HelloKaradoc! Over 1,500 km south as the drone flies (but over 2,200 km to drive), is the town of Mildura. At 27 times the population of Hughenden, it may seem a veritable metropolis – but is still a modest town of 30,000. Including surrounding areas, its populationmay top 60,000. Amajor citrus, grape and wine-producing region, it is still hours away frombig cities likeMelbourne and Adelaide. Armed with its experience from Hughenden and the confidence of partner BayWa r.e., Beon set out to see how it could use the local workforce, including those who traditionally had a difficult time securing full-time work to support their families. The much bigger project needed many more people for the commencement of a second project with BayWa r.e., More staff needed to be hired to build a facility with over five times the electricity generating capacity of the Hughenden Solar Park. The Karadoc Solar Farm would have 348,000 solar panels generating over 112 MW of energy to supply power to, among other things, the Carlton & United Brewery operations. Once again, Beon committed to hiring local residents, including newly arrived refugees, people on community-based orders and others recently released from prison, as well as the long-term unemployed. New country, new chance with Beon As in many countries, refugees face multiple hurdles in the workforce on top of the normal challenges faced by locals. Language, poverty (normally arriving with nothing), and a lack of cultural understanding and connections are all barriers to securing gainful employment. Murtaza (his last name withheld for safety reasons) faced all those challenges – but found a home with Beon. Murtaza’s family fled Afghanistan when he was 14. His father was accepted into Australia as a refugee through the UN refugee programme. But it was another three years before all his paperwork was completed, allowing Murtaza, his mother and three younger siblings to join him. Tragically, four weeks before they landed in Australia, Murtaza’s father drowned in Albury. They still went ahead with their move to Mildura and, in spite of all the difficulties and challenges, Murtaza graduated from high school. With a family to support, university was not an option. He secured work on the Karadoc project and did so well that Beon offered him an electrical apprenticeship – a chance to gain qualifications and earn a higher salary to support his family. He welcomed it with gusto. “He has been one of the standout apprentices,” says electrical site manager Ben Williams. “He’s a role model in the way he just puts his head down and works and always turns up. Murtaza is awesome and we would have him on any project, any day.” Murtaza aims to use his new income to support his siblings to do what he couldn’t – go to university. He’s also bridging cultures between refugee communities and native-born Australians. “I ... met a lot of people, learned more about Australian culture. And I think they have learned a bit about mine,” he says. “People look at me now not as a refugee, but as a workmate, and some, I hope, as a friend.” “People look at me now not as a refugee, but as a workmate, and some, I hope, as a friend.” Murtaza, Beon employee