SIX work for the dole participants achieved a Certificate II in Rail Infrastructure on February 13 at a ceremony held at MAX Employment's Northam office.
The qualifications come after months of hard work on an exciting new project in the heart of the Wheatbelt.
Since August last year, Christopher Sheard, Levi Hirst, Wade Briggs, Merrick Whitwell, John Westberg and Robert Dawe have been helping make The Wheatbelt Heritage Rail Project a reality.
Located at Minnivale, The Wheatbelt Heritage Rail Project will be a major tourist attraction drawing people from far and wide.
By the middle of the year, heritage steam and diesel locomotives will conduct excursions across the Wheatbelt from Goomalling via Dowerin to Wyalkatchem.
The heritage trains will be complete with saloon, buffet and sleeping cars.
They will be operating to service community and tourist events.
The project has seen the work for the dole team building a connecting railway to the main line.
They have also been busy constructing a siding, a platform, parking spaces and a workshop, along with maintaining surrounding public areas.
The central hub will be called the Rail Discovery Centre.
The centre will celebrate the past and show the future using today's technology featuring a light and sound show, an operating steam experience and interactive displays.
The work for the dole crew camp on site during the week at Minnivale as part of the project.
CERT national manager Mark Haigh said it was a huge task considering none of the six men had prior rail and construction skills.
“They have come together as a team and learnt new skills – without these skills it couldn't be done,” he said.
“I would be surprised if they all didn't gain employment after this because their qualifications are very sought after in the industry.”
Working in Minnivale has seen the crew fighting through temperatures as high as 48.9 degrees, with Mr Haigh praising their work ethic.
“I would like to also thank the Shire of Dowerin for supplying machinery, MAX Employment for co-ordination and selection of individuals and the funding support of Royalties for Regions and the Department of Training and Workforce Development,” he said.
The work for the dole crew will continue on to complete a Certificate III in Rail Operations.