Above: National Green Jobs Corp participant Abod Ragab. 71269
By Charlene Gatt
A GROUP of young people have used their green thumbs to build their own career paths.
The latest graduates of Westgate Community Initiative’s (WGIC) National Green Jobs Corp are now taking to the workforce after spending the past six months of on-the-job training creating an expansive community garden and recreation area for visitors to The Australia Light Foundation in Tottenham.
The program combines work experience and skill development for young people aged between 17 and 24 who have previously struggled to engage with and remain in education and training.
Participants learn the basics of conservation, cultural heritage, the protection and rejuvenation of the local environment, landscaping and carpentry, and each completes training in OHS requirements, level two first-aid, a Certificate II in Nationally Recognised Training and a Construction Card (White Card).
A total 70 per cent of graduates from the most recent group have gone into apprenticeships, traineeships and employment.
One of those participants is 22-year-old Werribee resident Adam Humphrey, who has been picked up by two employers and is working six days a week in landscaping and garden maintenance.
Mr Humphrey told Star he had family trouble and dabbled in drugs as a teen, making it hard for him to concentrate at school or keep a job.
“I found (Green Jobs Corp) one of the best experiences, because I’ve had a very troubled life and in different courses I didn’t get the training and stuff I needed, but through this I’ve learned so much and they had really good teachers,” he said.
“It was pretty hard to get on track with everything around me, but now the National Greens showed me a different perspective on life and showed me that working is pretty much a main priority.”
This week is National Skills Week, which is celebrating with the theme Hands and Minds – The DNA of Skills and Trade.
Vacancies now exist for the next National Green Jobs Corp that starts in October. Call Jodie Aickin on 9689 3437 for more information.
