M80 Ring Road Alliance (ACCIONA, MACA and AECOM) delivering the M80 Ring Road Completion
Overview
The M80 Ring Road Completion (M80RRC) is one of Victoria’s most significant infrastructure projects, and a criticalcomponent of North East Link (NEL).
Since its inception, the Project’s aspiration has been to transform lives and communities, not only by creatingexceptional infrastructure, but by empowering people to realise their potential.
The M80RRC has designed and implemented a suite of employment and engagement programs to createsustainable career pathways and meaningful social outcomes. A comprehensive recruitment process, a tailoredonboarding process and on-the-job training have culminated in outstanding participation and retention rates acrossthe below programs, with individuals fully supported to succeed in their current role, and beyond.
-Business Administration Traineeship
-Cadetship
-Parkville Youth Detention
-Women in Construction
-Career Seekers Employment (Refugees)
-Veteran Pathway Employment
-School based Traineeships & Work Experience
-Yooralla IMPACT Program
Increasing women’s representation in the construction industry is a key focus, with the Project’s second cohortcurrently completing the Women in Construction – Certificate III in Civil Construction. Our partnership with RMIT topromote Women in STEM continues to build positive momentum.
Also passionate about providing opportunities for Aboriginal businesses, the Project recently launched a first-of-its-kind mentoring program with Aboriginal organisation Dardi Munwurro.
Outcomes
Between July 2024 and February 2026, the Project’s commitment to achieving positive social outcomes has resultedin 200 individuals employed across the Project, including:
- 20 individuals in full-time employment, part of the Business Administration Traineeship Program;
- 20 women in full-time employment, part of the Women in Construction Traineeship Program;
- 4 Individuals transitioned from youth detention into full-time employment, part of the Parkville Youth DetentionProgram. (Maluk Adab testimonial below);
- 17 asylum seekers and refugees now in full-time employment, part of the Career Seekers Program;
- 23 individuals with different visible and non-visible disabilities in full-time employment. (Justin Thomasontestimonial below);
- 5 veterans in full-time employment through our partnership with Soldier On;
- 74 cadets in part-time employment, part of our Cadetship Program;
- 18 Aboriginal people to date directly employed, through our commitment to Aboriginal employment andMentoring.
The Project’s holistic approach has broadened and strengthened the skillsets of its entry level workforce, deliveringlife-changing outcomes for various cohorts including priority jobseekers, Aboriginal people, people living with adisability and women.
The Project has partnered with various Registered Training Organisations to provide traineeships across Certificate 3 Civil Construction Plant Operations, Certificate 4 Civil Construction Supervision, Certificate 4 WHS, Certificate 3 and 4Business Management, and various other vocational courses.
Through a partnership with Yooralla, the M80RRC has demonstrated its commitment to building an inclusiveworkplace, by creating valuable work experience opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. After an initialprogram involving participants visiting the Project across multiple occasions and completing work experience, Owenand Letitia from the Yooralla Impact Program are now employed on the M80RRC.
In 2025, the Project engaged with 1,272 students and 109 teachers, to inspire consideration of a career inconstruction - part of the Project's RMIT Women in STEM Schools Engagement initiative.
In the same year, the Project introduced a dedicated Aboriginal Staff Mentoring Program in partnership with DardiMunwurro, aimed at strengthening cultural safety, improving workforce retention, and providing more consistent,culturally appropriate support for Aboriginal employees across the Project's sites. This program has alreadydelivered clear benefits on the M80 across staff retention, wellbeing and development.
The Project has also contributed to brighter futures and long-term success for 32 Aboriginal businesses and 12social enterprise businesses. The Project's dedicated Social Procurement team has supported the award of over$90,000,000 in local contracts, resulting in a significant impact on individuals, and creating generational changewithin communities.
In sharing outcomes:
The M80 team regularly shares case studies with its client - VIDA Roads, with initiatives published on the Big Buildwebsite and across North East Link's (NEL) social media channels.
The Project also collaborates with other NEL packages, sharing initiatives and outcomes at quarterly ‘lessons learnt’with the intent to facilitate adoption on other projects.
This collaboration has also assisted with identifying future employment opportunities for M80 team members. Arecent example is a recruit from the M80RRC's School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships program, nowengaged to undertake a Work Health and Safety Traineeship on NEL's Eastern Package.
Beneficiaries of the project
Close collaboration with community organisations, training providers, and industry partners has resulted in Project programs and initiatives that are relevant, accessible, and aligned with participant needs, benefiting over 200individuals, and affording them gained confidence, experience, and skills to carry them forward into future roles.
The reflections below illustrate this impact:
Justin Thomason – M80 Project Business Administration trainee
“I am a quadriplegic and honestly never thought I’d be able to work. Since being given the amazing opportunity towork on this project, I’ve not only found purpose in my job, but have matured significantly. I can go out in public bymyself without having anxiety attacks, come to work by myself and live my life more. My friends and family havesaid how much different I am since I started work here.
Maluk Adab – M80 Health & Wellbeing Trainee (via Parkville Detention Program)
“This opportunity has given me purpose. I wake up every morning at 5am eager to come into work. I’ve built aroutine, and for the first time feel proud when someone asks me what I do. Most importantly, when my little brotherand sister tell me they’re proud of me, I know I’m in the right spot in life. I’m finally becoming the role model I’vealways wanted to be for my family and community.”
Finally, the whole M80 team draws pride from contributing to a project widely acknowledged as a leader in creatinga diverse and inclusive workplace, which has had a profoundly positive impact on culture.
Leaving a legacy
The M80RRC team is proud of the meaningful social outcomes it’s creating beyond the new structures and roadconnections.
UN SDG 5. Gender Equality:
In July 2025, 14 women graduated the M80RRC’s first all-female traineeship – Certificate III in Civil Construction. After12 months gaining hands-on experience across civils, structures, haulage and traffic management functions, severalof the women have gone on to secure roles with project partners, while others have progressed into Certificate IVstudies.
The M80RRC Cadet program, traditionally aimed at engineers, has been expanded to include other disciplines,opening the program to a broader range of people, including more females. Since 2024, the Project has had 74cadets in part-time employment, approximately 50% of each year’s cohort being female, with many continuing intothe Project’s Graduate Program.
Through the M80RRC's RMIT Women in STEM Schools Engagement initiative, the Project is encouraging futuregenerations of women to join the construction industry.
UN SDGs 10. Reduced inequalities and 8. Decent work and economic growth:
In late 2024, the Project was awarded the Corporate Partner Excellence Award at the Victorian Aboriginal BusinessAwards, recognised for its leading procurement and collaboration with Indigenous suppliers including Fleet HDFAlliance, Wamarra, Dardi Munwurro and A2B Consumables.
In 2025, the Project was awarded the Most Impactful ESG Project Award, by the Australasian Procurement andConstruction Council, in recognition of social procurement programs creating employment opportunities for priorityjob seekers.
As an example, Social Engine, a Melbourne social enterprise focused on empowering vulnerable youth throughemployment and training opportunities, won a contract on the M80RRC to operate the 'Social Engine Canteen' onsite daily, keeping our workforce caffeinated and fed, while providing vulnerable young people valuable workexperience.
Legacy:
The Project’s vision to transform the way infrastructure projects are delivered is becoming a reality through thededication of its Diversity and Inclusion team.
Through fostering meaningful partnerships and creating meaningful employment and skills opportunities, theProject’s goal is to leave behind a legacy of growth and empowerment, so that our people, partners and theircommunities, can continue to thrive long after the Project is complete.