Company News

October is Safe Work Month, a time to make your commitment to improving safety and health in your workplace. For 2020 the theme for this year is Supporting Work Health and Safety through COVID-19.

In these unprecedented times, every business has had to adapt to new practices and procedures to reduce the risks and operate safely. At Perkins Builders, we have developed and implemented a range of initiatives to work consistently with the safety, social distancing, and hygiene measures that have been rolled out around the country.

We encourage our employees, subcontractors and all visitors to our sites and offices to have good hygiene; we have increased cleaning on every site and office (including deep cleans), we have increased the number of hand sanitising stations on site and have posters to educate on how to thoroughly wash and dry hands.

Perkins introduced physical distancing signs on all of our construction sites. These signs, custom made by our fabrication team in Bunbury, are made to size and clearly demonstrate the requirements.

In Western Australia, our restrictions have eased and life feels almost normal, but we must not become complacent. It is still important as ever to Support Work Health and Safety through COVID-19 and monitor our health.

At Perkins, we ask every employee and visitor to our sites and offices if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, if they have been, or have potentially been, exposed to a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or is suspected to have COVID-19 (even if the person who is suspected to have COVID-19 has not yet been tested), or if they have undertaken any travel within the last 14 days. It is important to ask these questions to keep our workplace safe; Remember, if you feel unwell, stay at home and get tested.

Reach out to your friends, family and colleagues; stay connected even though you may be physically apart. A simple phone call or text message can all the difference.

No matter the industry, we all have a responsibility to create a safe workplace for everyone. We’re in this together.

Perkins Builders are pleased to announce we have been awarded the contract for the construction of the new DFES Emergency Services Centre in Collie. The multi-purpose facility will be officially named the Koolinup Emergency Services Centre and is the State’s first regionally based Level 3 Incident Control Centre, which will be activated during major emergency incidents in the South-West region, including bushfires.

The Koolinup Emergency Services Centre will support career and volunteer emergency services personnel, including firefighters and SES in Collie and the South-West region. The centre will also include an emergency driver training school for DFES and other State Government volunteers and staff, as well as providing a regional fleet management capability that will support management of the high fire season fleet as it cycles through the Collie Facility between north and south high threat periods.

Perkins are excited to be involved in this great local project, which will create a large number of local jobs during construction.

A turning of the sod was held on 1st September and attended by Emergency Services Minister Francis Logan and Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray, Aboriginal Elders and senior representatives from DFES and Perkins Builders.

To see the full media statement from the Government of Western Australia, please click here.

On August 12th, Perkins Builders were privileged to host The Honourable Kim Beazley AC, Governor of Western Australia and Department of Fire and Emergency Services representatives at the construction site of the new Bushfire Centre of Excellence in Pinjarra. The visit was a great opportunity to see progress and the behind the scenes work that goes into the final product.

The new centre will be the first of its kind in WA and Australia. It’s been designed as a learning hub that’s accessible to all bushfire management stakeholders and will provide high-level training for WA’s bush firefighters and other emergency service personnel.

Images courtesy of DFES.

The BP Truck Stop artwork at Muchea was the result of a strong collaboration between Harvis (Developer), BP and Rampage (Client) and Perkins Builders wanting to recognise the traditional owners of the land and to commemorate the cultural significance of the site.

UDLA in partnership with Beverley Port-Louis and Diane Joyce-Yappo were engaged by Perkins Builders to facilitate an Aboriginal led design process for an interpretive artwork reflecting the cultural significance of the Muchea area to Yuat Nyoongar people and all people of the Nyoongar nation. Nyoongar artist Kylie Graham facilitated a workshop session with Aboriginal girls from the Tree of Life program to produce a series of drawings developed through conversations with and guidance from Nyoongar elders and leaders May McGuire, Peter Phillips, Barry McGuire, June Headland and Suzanne Yappo.

The artwork is made of three curved steel panels which embodies an interpretive theme that reflects the birthing site, Wargyl and Water, Flora and Fauna, the cultural significance of the surrounding area with a locally sourced rammed-earth base providing a natural feel as well as representing the understanding of an ochre pit that was known to the area through the wavy red gravel and limestone finish.

Perkins Builders are extremely proud to have been awarded another project in the beautiful South West; the Donnybrook Central Heritage Project.

This project will connect the public spaces on both sides of Donnybrook’s iconic railway station precinct and the Apple Fun Park, creating an asset that will provide a range of benefits to the local economy and tourism industry. The focal point of the project is the restoration and adaption of the heritage listed Goods Shed, which will provide an interactive showcase of the regions rich history.

“Perkins is extremely pleased to be involved in this important community project which not only recognises and preserves the cultural heritage of Donnybrook, but also provides business and employment opportunities for the region”

For more information please see the full media release below or the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup website.

[Photo courtesy of the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup]

Perkins Builders are proud to announce our success at the 2020 Master Builders Association of Western Australia South West Building Excellence Awards; our projects won four awards and one a finalist for Best Regional Project (Commercial).

Thank you to all our staff, our valued subcontractors and suppliers for their hard work and dedication; for enabling such a high level of quality to be achieved time and time again.

Congratulations to our apprentice Brody Robinson for his outstanding achievement in being awarded Best Regional Apprentice, Best Carpentry Apprentice and Best Direct Indentured Apprentice. Brody is in the fourth year of his apprenticeship with Perkins; this is a fantastic outcome and is testament to Brody’s hard work and dedication. Perkins is extremely proud to have assisted in this achievement, from all of the team, congratulations Brody and well done!

Perkins are also extremely pleased to have been awarded the Employer Trainer of the Year Award. This award recognises not just the well-established apprentice program but also the numerous traineeships being undertaken by our staff, the in-house discipline specific training sessions, the Leadership Training including the MBA’s Building Leadership Simulation Course, external skill development courses and general awareness training including Mates in Construction and Cultural Awareness sessions. This is a significant and comprehensive program which has been acknowledged and rewarded by the MBA with this award.

This week we celebrated a very special milestone for our Administration Officer, Jaydeen –  her 20 Year Anniversary of working for Perkins Builders.

Jaydeen is a much loved and respected member of our Head Office team where she has worked in a number of administration roles over the years, playing a significant role in progressing the business to where it is today. Her hard work, dedication and attention to detail are invaluable.

From all of us at Perkins, congratulations Jaydeen!

Within the construction industry, the wider community and our nation as a whole, we are facing unprecedented and uncertain times amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic. Perkins Builders are committed to ensuring the health and safety of each and every person on our sites and at our offices.

We have developed and implemented a range of initiatives to work consistently with the safety, social distancing, hygiene measures that have been rolled out around the country. One initiative we are extremely proud of in the installation of Social Distancing signs at every Perkins site (including our Eduwest joint venture sites with Badge Construction).

Built by our talented Bunbury fabrication team, these signs clearly display, to scale, social distancing requirements. We are extremely proud of our staff for championing these new initiatives; and to all our valued clients, subcontractors, suppliers and consultants for their understanding and cooperation as we all adapt to this new way of business.

Perkins Builders, as a part of the EduWest Consortium (a joint venture with BADGE Constructions, Macquarie Capital and other stakeholders) are pleased to provide an update on the WA Schools Public Private Partnership, following completion of Hammond Park Secondary School Stage 1 and Harrisdale Secondary School Stage 2.