Team leader Matthew West and Kooweerup Regional Health Services youth health promotion worker Toby Sargent watch participants Katie, Bianca, Darren and Clint in the community garden.
By Nicole Williams
A NEW training and employment program has been launched at the community gardens of Kooweerup Regional Health Services.
National Green Jobs Corps, a federal government initiative, targets 17 to 24-year-old job seekers and provides a 26-week environmental training program through CVGT (Central Victoria Group Training).
A voluntary team will work in the hospital’s community garden for six months and complete a Certificate 2 in Conservation and Land Management.
CVGT program coordinator Antony Musgrove said the program provides a great opportunity for the volunteers to create community links and build confidence to help get a job in the future. Mr Musgrove said the program was not concerned about the work that is done but it is about the opportunities that the work provides.
Kooweerup Regional Health Services youth health promotion worker Toby Sargent said the hospital was looking forward to seeing the program develop.
“It is a good opportunity for the team to work with other community groups, residents and staff,” he said.
The team will work on saving the fruit trees from excess water, building a bridge and creating a picnic area within the gardens.
The National Green Jobs Corps program is calling for more participants.
For more information call 13 17 64 or visit www.deewr.gov.au/ngjc.
