City of Casey mayor Shar Balmes is pictured with, from left, Daniel Tanner, David Leyson, Ben Redgen, Brandon Kelly and Rachael Holland at the Greening Doveton Project launch.A NEW program has been launched in Casey giving young people the chance to develop workplace skills while improving the local environment.
The Greening Doveton Project was officially launched at Myuna Farm on Monday 11 July.
The project, which kicked off in May, involves 16 young people from across Casey.
It provides a Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management for young people between the ages of 17 and 24 years through hands-on training.
Participants take part in a variety of hands-on environmental tasks at council and community sites including Doveton Neighbourhood Learning Centre, Myuna Farm, Eumemmerring Federation Food Garden, Doveton Baptist Church and Wilson Botanic Park in Berwick.
Participants develop skills such as occupational health and safety, communication, team work and a variety of environmental management skills including plant identification, revegetation, design and construction, the safe use of tools and much more.
A Facebook page promoting the project can be accessed by searching ‘Greening Doveton’.
City of Casey mayor Shar Balmes, who officially launched the project, praised the initiative as a wonderful opportunity for local young people.
“The City of Casey is proud to be working with our partner organisations to deliver this important program, which is improving environmental sustainability at different council and community sites and also giving a group of young people the opportunity to find sustainable and secure employment,” she said.
Another important part of the program will see the installation of a range of green innovations at the Doveton Neighbourhood Learning Centre. This will include lighting replacement, a solar demonstration system and a water tank linked to the toilets. The trainees will use their new skills as part of the retrofit.
Financial support for the project is through the Federal Government’s National Green Jobs Corps initiative with materials provided by the City of Casey.
