For a business that operates seven quarries across Queensland, Hillery Group’s sustained success has been forged from an even greater asset – its people.
With five decades of sustained success, Hillery Group’s long-term partnerships have been built on continuous improvement and workforce development that keeps the business operating at its highest level.
Nearly half of its workforce is currently enrolled in an accredited training program with one in four qualified tradespeople in its maintenance team voluntarily taking on a second trade.
Specialising in civil, road and rail construction, the family-owned business has built long-term relationships with Whitsunday Regional Council, Aurizon Rail Freight, Abbot Point Operations and Glencore, working across mining, infrastructure, government and private sectors.
What sets Hillery Group apart is its ability to self-perform projects using its own people, quarries, plant, transport fleet and maintenance facilities.
Since January, Major Training has delivered a BSB41419 Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety and a BSB50820 Diploma of Project Management to more than 20 employees at Hillery Group, forming the backbone of a broader skills program reaching across the business.
Kelly McDonald, Director People and Culture at Hillery Group, said the program was designed to strengthen leadership capability, while supporting our commitment to continuous improvement, compliance and operational excellence
“We partnered with Major Training to develop a customised safety leadership program aligned with our ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and FSC accreditation requirements,” McDonald said.
The course covers practical development in risk management, incident reporting and investigation, hazard identification, due diligence, giving leaders tools they can apply on site the same week they learn them.
Results that reach beyond the classroom
Hillery Group’s partnership with Major Training has reshaped how the business thinks about professional development.
The Director of People and Culture said the impact has extended well beyond the leaders who completed the course.
“Since introducing the program we have seen a strong uptake in further training and qualifications across our workforce,” Ms McDonald said.
“Our leaders have shown that continuous learning is valued at every level of the business, creating a culture where professional development is encouraged rather than viewed as optional.”
That shift in culture has translated into measurable gains in safety compliance too, with greater consistency in risk management, hazard reporting and incident investigations.
The numbers behind the culture
Right now, 48% of Hillery Group’s workforce is undertaking an accredited training program.
Within the maintenance team specifically, 25% of qualified tradespeople have voluntarily chosen to take on dual apprenticeships, expanding their own skill sets well beyond their original trade.
That voluntary uptake has had a direct flow on effect for retention.
Hillery Group’s maintenance apprentices are given clear pathways to build a long-term career within the business, rather than qualifying and moving on.
Hillery Group has further training scheduled in the coming weeks, reinforcing a shared commitment with Major Training to building a skilled, capable workforce equipped to drive the business forward for decades to come.
