The Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) Authority is encouraging expressions of interest for individuals to join the world’s first all-women tunnel boring machine crew, which will be part of the team building the SRL East tunnels from Cheltenham to Glen Waverley in Melbourne.
Isolde Piet – the first female TBM pilot in the world – will lead the all-women TBM crew, an initiative aimed at breaking down barriers to attract more women into the construction industry.
The team will include around 25 highly skilled roles, including the TBM operator, gantry and segment crane operators, grouters and support roles – opening up careers for a new generation of women. It will be one of eight crews operating the four TBMs digging the SRL East twin tunnels between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley.
SRL East will deliver six new underground stations between Cheltenham and Box Hill, slashing travel times and congestion, and connecting people to new housing options and key employment, health and education destinations in Melbourne’s east and south east. Trains will be taking passengers in 2035.
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Suburban Connect is the consortium delivering the Tunnel South contract to build the 16 kilometres of twin tunnels between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley.
Previous experience is not necessary. As well as women already working in construction and tunnelling, women working in other industries and those at the start of their careers are also encouraged to apply, with comprehensive training forming part of program.
Tunnelling for SRL East will start in 2026, and the all-women TBM crew is expected to be operating by 2027.Trains will be taking passengers in 2035.
To find out more and to apply, click here.