As part of the Victorian Government’s ambitious Level Crossing Removal Project, our Western Program Alliance (WPA) is upgrading Ballarat Station and leaving a lasting legacy beyond construction. A key part of this legacy is our partnership with McCallum Industries, a Ballarat-based organisation with over 70 years of experience supporting people with disabilities.
McCallum was a natural fit for our social procurement strategy. Their mission to empower people with disabilities aligns closely with our commitment to delivering equitable project outcomes and fostering meaningful, long-term benefits in the communities where we work.
Initially engaged for basic recycling services—such as paper and can collection—McCallum quickly demonstrated capacity far beyond expectations. Their strong community presence and reputation were matched by capabilities across safety, commercial, environmental, and technical domains.
Following a thorough procurement assessment, McCallum was awarded responsibility for delivering the project’s soft landscaping package, including the two-year post-construction maintenance phase. This marks a significant evolution in their role—from a support service provider to a key contributor to the delivery team.
One of the biggest challenges in expanding McCallum’s involvement was the requirement for Rail Industry Worker (RIW) accreditation—something many McCallum employees could not meet due to the nature of their disabilities. Rather than allow this to be a barrier, WPA advocated internally and worked closely with rail operator V/Line to chart a new path forward.
Through proactive engagement and innovative thinking, WPA successfully negotiated an exemption to the RIW credentialing requirement specific to McCallum’s scope of work. This exemption was underpinned by tailored safety controls and enhanced supervision, ensuring all team members could contribute safely and effectively in a live rail environment.
This collaboration is more than a commercial arrangement—it is a values-driven partnership that empowers individuals, challenges industry norms, and demonstrates what’s possible when inclusivity and innovation go hand-in-hand.
By engaging McCallum, the Ballarat Station Upgrade project is not only transforming local infrastructure but also helping transform lives.
Read more about McCallum here:https://www.mccallum.org.au/
