A world first: Meet the all-female rail construction team in Melbourne

In a world-first for the construction industry (yes, you read that right), an all-women crew is helping build the southern section of tunnels on Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East — a bold step toward greater gender diversity in one of Australia’s largest infrastructure projects.

The team will operate a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley, led by pioneering TBM pilot Isolde Piet, who was the first woman in the world to hold the role — just casually.

Among the team members are Michele Killoran and Chhunly Taing, both of whom bring unique and inspiring career journeys to the project. After hearing what they had to say, we couldn’t help but be inspired.

Michele says she joined the construction industry after three decades in printing and six years in traffic management. Since 2022, she has worked as a labourer, managing tool sheds on major projects including the West Gate Tunnel, before joining SRL East via subcontractor Cycon Civil as a labourer and warehouse coordinator.

“I entered the construction industry after a 30-year career in printing — I was looking for a new challenge in a role that would help me build my self-confidence,” Killoran told Missing Perspectives. “I’ve seen the industry change a lot over the years, and it’s becoming much more common to see women on site. I think it’s important that we continue encouraging women to apply for jobs in the industry, and it’s great to see that there are programs in place, like Suburban Rail Loop’s all-women TBM crew, to provide women with those opportunities.”

Like Michele, Chhunly also made a significant career pivot, beginning her professional life in corporate sales before entering construction in search of something new. After working in traffic management, she completed a Certificate III in Civil Construction at Holmesglen Institute. In 2022, she was named Victorian Apprentice of the Year. She started with John Holland on Metro Tunnel’s Parkville Station in 2021, rose to supervisor in 2024, and joined the SRL East project in February 2025.

“Opportunities like this don’t come often for women in this industry. It has always been my dream to work in a TBM crew, and I’m excited to join other women on such an epic project,” Taing said.

“Many people think that women can’t do this work — you enter this industry knowing you will be outnumbered, but my journey, the journeys of other women and girls, and this crew are proof that it’s entirely possible for women to succeed in this industry.”

She added: “I always tell women and girls: don’t be afraid to jump right in, because we are making moves. A lot of men are learning from their wives, daughters, granddaughters, nieces and friends that women want to and can be valuable assets to this industry.”

The all-women TBM initiative drew an overwhelming response, with almost 900 applications received from candidates across a variety of sectors — including tunnelling and construction, as well as administration, hospitality, human resources and beauty therapy. More than 100 applicants had no prior construction experience, but simply wanted to give it a go.

As women like Michele and Chhunly help shape the tunnels of the future, they’re also reshaping the workforce above ground — breaking barriers and building momentum for a more inclusive construction industry in Australia and beyond.