The AfPA graduate taking the road less travelled

According to Infrastructure Australia, by 2023 one in every three skilled labour positions will go unfilled, and whilst Australia’s skills crisis remains well publicised in the context of typical trades, little discussed are its impacts on the workforce servicing the nation’s most crucial assets, its roads.

Australian Flexible Pavement Association (AfPA) Civil Engineer and QUT Graduate Abraham Wani is one of these young people breaking the mould by looking to answer the call for more resilient and sustainable road infrastructure.

Wani has urged that more people seeking to make real difference to Australia’s future infrastructure consider the flexible pavement industry.

“I am excited to be playing a critical role in Australia’s recovery. I am excited to learn as much as possible and to apply the practices I learned in university, for example I am very passionate about sustainability,” he says.

“Though I was raised in Australia I was born in South Sudan, visiting there throughout my childhood I began to realise from a young age the value of infrastructure and well-maintained transportation routes.

“I would absolutely recommend that young people consider this industry, though many might not have considered it, I get to do important, innovative work and make a real tangible difference.”

Having already completed a variety of projects including engineering reports, on-site investigations and civil infrastructure design, Wani is already providing vital skill and innovation to one of the nation’s most crucial industries.

AfPA aims to support more graduates like Abraham through a variety of programs they offer, supporting students with upskilling opportunities throughout their studies including sharpening their comprehensive, analytical and calculative engineering skills.

Carlos Rial, CEO of AfPA, says he is delighted with Wani’s progress thus far.

“We are very proud of the work that Abraham has done and applaud his intuition, spotting the glaring need for skilled workers to service the nation’s crucial transport routes.

“Young people such as Abraham are a rare and desperately needed asset to the Australian infrastructure workforce, more than ever we need eager, intelligent young people to lead the way froward for our critical assets.

“In the midst of Australia’s civil sector big build, supporting our economic and flood damaged recovery, we need more investment in our young future leaders to help with today and for society tomorrow.”

This article was originally published in the July edition of our magazine. To read the magazine, click here.