Commercial construction company EMCO Building has secured a $12.8 million contract to build an Aboriginal accommodation complex at Catherine’s College at the University of Western Australia.
The project will double the capacity of the existing Dandjoo Darbalung program, which provides accommodation to Aboriginal students from regional and remote communities who are enrolled in tertiary education.
Housing Minister Peter Tinley turned the first sod today and said the project was expected to be completed by the start of the first semester in 2019.
“This latest development not only helps create and support local jobs during its construction phase, the program itself has the capacity to change lives and improve educational outcomes for young Aboriginal people and their communities,” he said
"Dandjoo Darbalung offers a holistic living and learning environment that activates and celebrates Aboriginal culture, and supports academic success and employment outcomes.
“Doubling its current capacity to 100 students will make it the biggest tertiary residential program of its type in Australia.”
Emco has built more than 20 education structures across Perth in recent years, including the John Curtin College of Arts theatre, Edith Cowan University’s student accommodation, and the petrochemical facility at UWA.
