Constructionarium 2025: Building capability, confidence and careers

By building a bridge, our graduates built much more - capability, confidence, and connections that will shape their careers for years to come. 

We believe people grow most when they’re challenged, supported and given the chance to apply what they’ve learned in real, meaningful ways. That belief came to life once again through Constructionarium 2025 - an eight-day immersive experience where our graduates stepped into the world of infrastructure and followed the full project lifecycle, from tender right through to construction. 

This year, we were proud to return as a lead partner of Constructionarium Australia, alongside Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV), supporting a new group of emerging talent as they took on the task of building a 25-metre, 12.5-tonne replica of the Victorian Big Build project. 

The result? Just over a week packed with purpose, teamwork and serious growth. 

Bridging learning and real-world experience 

Constructionarium is more than just a training experience. It’s a real project, with real roles, real challenges and real accountability. 

“The aim of Constructionarium is to expose construction professionals to the full gambit of what it takes to get a project from the tender phase to successful completion” said Ian Grimes, Lead Trainer, Constructionarium. 

Our grads were right in the thick of it - preparing bids, managing safety, learning about environmental requirements, and ultimately building a bridge that mimicked the complexity of major infrastructure projects. Along the way, they leaned on mentors, tackled real-world challenges, and got a firsthand look at what it takes to bring a design to life on site. 

Growing confidence, one challenge at a time 

What makes this experience so powerful is how much it stretches our grads - not just in what they can do, but in how they think and lead. 

“It’s taught me to have an appreciation for every part of a project. Not just construction as a whole but all of the quality checks, the safety planning, the behind-the-scenes work before you even get on site” said Stella Bantragolas, Graduate Site Engineer. 

This kind of hands-on learning is what we’re all about at Symal. We give our people the trust and space to step up early - matching their ambition with opportunities that help them grow, both professionally and personally. 

Stronger together 

What made this program even more special was the strength of the partnership behind it. Together with MRPV and Constructionarium Australia, we’re shaping the future of construction by investing in the people who will lead it further down the track. 

“The collaboration between MRPV and Symal has been fantastic - and that’s no surprise given what we’ve seen on our construction sites in real life.” said Brendan Pauwels, Program Director, Major Road Projects Victoria. 

And it goes beyond what's happening on site. Constructionarium is a great reminder of how important relationships are - in the industry and in the community. The way we collaborate, mentor and communicate reflects what matters most to us: building better together. 

A launchpad for what's next 

For our grads, Constructionarium is a major milestone, but it’s only the beginning. It’s part of a bigger development journey through our Ignite Graduate Program, which is designed to support emerging talent as they grow into confident, capable leaders. 

We’re so proud of this year’s Constructionarium cohort, the mentors who guided them, and everything they achieved over those eight intense days. Most of all, we’re excited to see what they go on to build - in projects, yes, but also in skills, careers and future opportunities. 

Curious about how we support the next generation of construction leaders? 

Explore our Ignite Graduate Program and see how we’re building futures from the ground up.