Local Parkes business Compliance Rail gives Indigenous workers a head start in the industry through Inland Rail
Everyone said Compliance Rail’s Luke Dickerson would “be back to the railway” after leaving the rail industry for 12 months, and they were right.
November 11, 2020
Drawing on his previous experience with Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), Luke said establishing Compliance Rail in Parkes was a considered choice. “Inland Rail is coming, why not get a piece of the pie?” he said. Inland Rail has created opportunities enabling Compliance Rail to grow from employing about five staff members to 70 by December 2019.
At any given time, Compliance Rail had up to 35 people working on Inland Rail between Parkes and Narromine. Compliance Rail has established a close relationship with Aboriginal Employment Services to employ Indigenous workers from Parkes, Wellington and Dubbo. Indigenous workers make up almost 90 percent of Compliance Rail employees.
Luke credits the staff for Compliance Rail’s success. He is proud of the close working relationships built on a foundation of open communication and honesty. Luke recognises Inland Rail may be viewed as short-term project employment, but he argues it offers local workers with an opportunity to get a start in the rail industry, leveraging their experience and training to take on different roles.
“This opportunity wouldn’t have been possible without Inland Rail,” he said.
November 11, 2020
