Joondalup has a rich cultural heritage that reflects the influence of its traditional Indigenous owners and early European settlers.
The name Joondalup is derived from the Noongar word Doondalup meaning ‘the lake that glistens'. According to Dreamtime legend, Lake Joondalup was shaped by the Wagyl, or rainbow serpent, as it traveled north from Lake Monger and Lake Karrinyup Joondalup.
In respect of this rich Noongar heritage, Macmahon conducts Indigenous awareness courses to help its employees understand the significance of the land in which they work and develop greater awareness and appreciation for the area’s diversity, history and identity.
Indigenous cultural specialist Kim Collard, from Kooya Consultancy, has delivered eight workshops for Supervisors on the Macmahon Mitchell Freeway project team. The workshops are designed to help participants communicate more effectively with Aboriginal colleagues and clients through use of appropriate language and non-verbal communication skills.
Mr Kim Collard is a Balladong man of the Noongar Nation and is one of less than 20 fluent language speakers of the Balladong dialect.
Macmahon also offers outstanding employment opportunities for Indigenous staff and formal traineeships which involve on-the-job training in skills such as small plant and equipment operating, traffic control, fencing, pipelaying and earthworks, leading to a nationally recognised Certificate II in Civil Construction.