McCorkell WA’s Youth and Industry Exploration Day 2025

01/06/2025

In February 2024, during a Volunteering Day at Parkerville Children and Youth Care, an idea was born that would later become one of McCorkell WA’s proudest philanthropic milestones.

That day, our team had the privilege of working alongside young people from Parkerville’s Education, Employment and Training (EET) Program. Many of these young people have faced extraordinary challenges – family breakdowns, trauma, abuse, homelessness, and disrupted schooling. For some, Parkerville has been their only constant, a place of safety and support when the world outside felt anything but.

The EET Program isn’t just an alternative education pathway. It’s a lifeline. It provides a secure and nurturing environment where young people can re-engage with learning, often for the first time in years. It supports them in building essential literacy, numeracy, life, and work-readiness skills. But beyond that, it helps restore belief – belief in their own worth, their capabilities, and their future.

While McCorkell could have simply donated to the program, we wanted to do more. We wanted to open a door. We wanted to show these young people – many of whom have never had the opportunity to dream big – that there is a place for them in the construction industry. That their future can be built just like our projects: with purpose, with support, and one strong foundation at a time.

So in June 2025, McCorkell WA hosted its first Youth and Industry Exploration Day.

Subcontractor: ConWest

We welcomed the entire EET cohort onto a live construction site – Indigo Junction in Midland – offering a rare behind-the-scenes experience of what goes into bringing a building to life. They heard firsthand from our concrete contractor about tilt panels and structural systems, our hydraulic contractor who shared insights into plumbing works, and our electrical contractor who explained the critical role of power and systems integration.

The students arrived full of curiosity, questions, and an eagerness that was genuinely moving. Many had never been on a construction site before. Some had never met a tradie. But they left inspired – not just by the work, but by the people who took the time to explain, encourage, and welcome them in.

Following the tour, we hosted a morning tea where training providers including MEGT, EGT, TAFE WA and the Construction Training Fund (CTF) shared real, tangible pathways into the industry. These sessions bridged the vital question of “How do I start?” – providing answers, resources, and a sense of direction for youth who are so often left out of the conversation.

The day ended in relaxed fashion (over burgers and milkshakes!) – conversations continued, questions flowed, and connections were made.

Subcontractor: VT Plumbing Group

Subcontractor: Eltech

In the weeks following, we were thrilled to hear that three young participants were offered work experience placements with our hydraulic contractor – with the opportunity to progress into formal apprenticeships. In addition, TAFE has now taken a more active partnership role with Parkerville to support students with job-readiness and career development – an ongoing commitment that will benefit future EET cohorts.

At McCorkell, we believe that building strong communities means supporting those who need it most. The Youth and Industry Exploration Day was more than an event – it was a step toward equity, dignity, and belonging for young people who deserve every chance to thrive.

We are proud to stand beside Parkerville Children and Youth Care, our trades, and our training partners in helping these incredible young people build the futures they so deeply deserve.