Six-year-old Labrador Bruce has become a star employee for the Level Crossing Removal Project in Melbourne's south east after joining the team to help an ex-Army member manage ongoing mental health challenges.
Bruce and his owner Tom are working for the Southern Program Alliance which is adding the finishing touches to 3 new station precincts at Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach after removing 5 dangerous and congested level crossings in November 2021.
A former rescue dog, Bruce underwent 250 hours of training delivered by inmates at the Bathurst Correctional Centre in New South Wales through a program run by the not-for-profit, Defence Community Dogs.
The organisation taps into the special qualities of man's best friend to help veterans manage post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression.
Tom was medically discharged from the Army in 2019 and struggled to adjust to civilian life.
'When I was discharged, I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do with myself,' he recalled.
'I was in a spot where I didn't care about a lot.'
Since then, Bruce has become the 24-year-old's "little guardian angel" by watching him for signs of PTSD, anxiety and depression. Bruce acts on the symptoms by distracting Tom from what he is feeling.
'There are cues that I'll give off, like I'll look flushed or start twitching.'
'Brucey will distract me, or jump up, or try to drag me away – I'm happy to say he saved my life.'
Tom is currently completing a 2 year traineeship in IT networking and cyber security and has been gaining hands on experience at the Level Crossing Removal Project's Mentone office since October 2021.
He was introduced to the project at a networking evening for ex-defence force members and is providing IT support to his colleagues. Tom is mostly office based, but when he visits project sites, Bruce is kept safely away from our works.
While Bruce is at work to help Tom, the Labrador is very social and has quickly become a much-loved member of the team in his own right.
'I've been so fortunate to work at LXRP because they have been so supportive and accepting of having Bruce in the office or at worksites with me.'
The Level Crossing Removal Project's A/Program Director Andrew Brenchley said Bruce and Tom have been welcome additions to the team.
'Everyone loves seeing Bruce with Tom around the office and on site, he brings a smile to everyone and momentarily distracts from the challenges of delivering major infrastructure during the pandemic.'
Tom grew up in Melbourne's south-east and lived in suburbs including Chelsea, so he has enjoyed being part of works to improve the local area.
While finishing works are due to be completed at Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach by the middle of the year, Tom and Bruce will be kept busy with works in the pipeline to remove another 4 dangerous and congested level crossings at Glen Huntly, Mentone and Parkdale, and build 2 new stations by 2025.
A total of 20 level crossings are being removed and 13 new stations created along the Frankston Line as part of a $4 billion investment, with a total of 85 level crossings to be removed across Melbourne to allow more trains, more often and less crowding on peak services.
