Five trainee groundskeepers have spent the past four months helping to landscape the rugby precinct under the Queensland Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work scheme.
The scheme is designed to give long-term unemployed and disadvantaged job seekers access to tailored employment assistance and work on community and environmental projects.
The Ballymore trainees have been awarded a Certificate I in Conservation and Land Management and have received 18 weeks of paid work experience to help them re-enter the workforce.
They were today presented at Ballymore with certificates of completion by Minister for Employment, Small Business, Training and Skills, Shannon Fentiman, and local MP for McConnel, Education Minister Grace Grace.
QRU chief executive officer David Hanham said the trainees had made a significant difference to the upkeep of the precinct.
“Our trainees have been doing significant environmental clean-up of areas of Ballymore which had fallen into disrepair,” he said.
“It has meant that our head groundsman has been able to devote more of his time to getting our playing fields into some of the best condition they’ve ever been in.
“We are expecting 8000 spectators for this weekend’s grand finals and they’ll all notice the improvement to the fields and areas such as the Newstead Brewing Company Hill.
“We are very impressed with the trainees we have had and we hope the experience they have gained here will help them find employment with other sporting clubs, councils or schools who need groundskeepers.”
A second intake of trainees is due to begin later this month and will also gain experience at community rugby clubs during the National Rugby Championship in September and October.
Ms Grace said the program both created new job opportunities and helped with important community projects.
“Ballymore is an important community venue and the trainees have had a real impact in making it look better,” she said.
“More importantly, the trainees are getting work-ready skills and the training they need to get a job and build a career.
“We know some people are still struggling to find the right opportunity and that’s what makes Skilling Queenslanders for Work so successful.
“Skilling Queenslanders for Work has been producing some fantastic results with more than 24,000 people finding jobs as a direct result of participating in one of these projects.
“This year’s State Budget is all about creating more jobs for Queenslanders and that’s why we have invested $80 million this year as part of our $420 million investment in this successful initiative.”
