Opportunities
We are supporting people and businesses in the Narrabri to North Star area with opportunities to work, learn and grow their business.
We closely monitor employment and industry participation to make sure local communities are benefitting from the opportunities available.
Locals in the Narrabri to North Star area are already benefitting from Inland Rail. Between September 2020 and October 2023, the project has employed:
- 2,153 people in total, of whom 372 are Indigenous
- 678 local residents, of whom 185 are local and Indigenous
- 220 women
- 1,984 people in a sustainable role*
To date, 137 local businesses and 13 First Nations businesses have supplied to the project, with a total spend of:
- $245.7 million with local businesses
- $23.7 million with Indigenous businesses
*Employed for 26 weeks or more for a minimum of 15 hours a week
Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 community benefits snapshot October 2023
Infographic summarising benefits of the Narrabri to North Star (Phase 1) project for the local community from September 2020 to October 2023.
Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 workforce training and skills development – January 2023
Infographic summarising the economic benefits the Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 project is realising by building skills and expertise in the local workforce.
Supporting First Nations workers
We are committed to helping individuals build life-long skills and prosperity within their local communities through the Inland Rail Skills Academy.
My Money Dream is a financial literacy program offered to First Nations employees on the Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 project by Inland Rail’s Skills Academy in conjunction with First Nations Foundation.
The program is designed to help participants achieve their financial goals by providing education around managing money, budgeting, banking, superannuation and insurance. Dozens of eligible workers have enrolled in the program with great success.
Scholarships for local university students
The Inland Rail Scholarship Program supports students from local communities through their full undergraduate course.
We have partnered with Charles Sturt University, the University of Southern Queensland and La Trobe University to offer scholarships to regional students pursuing studies and careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) and related fields.
Students who live along the Inland Rail route are invited to apply for scholarships valued up to $20,000, or the equivalent of $5,000 for every year of study during the undergraduate degree.
First Nations people and those experiencing financial hardship are particularly encouraged to apply for assistance.
Sponsoring community organisations
We are pleased to support local community groups to run events and activities through our Community Sponsorships and Donations Program.
We offer four open rounds of funding each year.
Initiatives we have funded include essential community items, such as:
- small business workshops
- youth programs
- community group initiatives
- water tanks
- equipment for community events
- local sporting events.
