Eight unemployed Indigenous people are among the first recruits to Queensland’s Green Army, which will be working to protect and restore the natural environment near Beaudesert.
Parliamentary Secretary for Employment and Economic Development Jan Jarratt said the group would complete 16-week paid work placements with BoysTown on the Veresdale Scrub project.
“The State Government is providing $151,170 for the project, through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, and the participants’ work will help preserve endangered plants in the Bilarabyn Reserve such as the Veresdale plum,” Ms Jarratt said.
“The group will complete accredited training covering the construction blue card, a first aid certificate and a licence for weed control and chemical spraying.
“The reserve is part of an important ecosystem so stopping its decline and restoring and planting native species will be a valuable outcome for the region. This project, co-ordinated by BoysTown, is also giving local people new skills and experience that will help them find jobs in the future.
“During the next three years, 2300 Queenslanders will work for up to six months on projects such as this and 700 young unemployed people will complete year-long traineeships thanks to the State Government’s $57 million commitment for Queensland’s Green Army.”
BoysTown regional manager Ann Chandra said the participants would complete a variety of tasks through the project.
“They will identify and eradicate weeds, perform wildlife and plant surveys, install irrigation and much more,” Ms Chandra said.
“As well as gaining horticultural skills and experience the participants will also brush up their general workplace skills such as time management, problem solving and teamwork, which will help them in any job as well as their daily lives.”
Media contacts: Treasurer’s office — (07) 3224 6361 or (07) 3224 5982
BoysTown – Ann Chandra (07) 3387 8845
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