Are you passionate about environmental issues? 

        -      Are you thinking of a career in the Conservation, Environment or Land Management field?

         -      Are you aged between 17 and 24 and working less than 15 hours per week?

The National Green Jobs Corps program is a great introduction to this industry.  For six months you will undergo hands on practical experience in conservation, protection, horticulture and rejuvenation while undertaking a Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management. The program is aimed at young people wanting to enter this industry or develop their general skills and experience for future employment opportunities.

Eligibility

The program is open to Australian Citizens or permanent residents aged 17 – 24 years old.

      -      If you are aged 17 - 20 years old:

You can be in part time education (university, TAFE, etc) but not in full time education;

You must be working less than 15 hours a week, and you can be (but don’t have to be) on the following income support payments - Youth Allowance (other), Newstart Allowance and Parenting Payment;

You can be receiving the Disability Support Pension, but you must agree to and be able to work 15 hours per week or more.

      -      If you are aged 21 - 24 years old:

You must be working less than 15 hours a week, and on the following income support payments - Youth Allowance (other), Newstart Allowance and Parenting Payment;

You can be receiving the Disability Support Pension, but you must agree to and be able to work 15 hours per week or more.

Eligible participants will be paid the National Green Jobs Corps supplement of $41.60 per fortnight.

What sort of things will you do?

Since our first National Green Jobs Corps project launched on Wednesday 3 March 2010, Diversitat has managed a range of interesting and practical projects with a number of different project partners.

Activities have ranged from working with Parks Victoria within many of their local reserves, ranging from the heights of the You Yang’s Regional Park, to the beaches of Point Addis, the salt marshes and lagoons of St. Leonards and the significant historical reserve of South Channel Island Fort. They have also worked with several landcare agencies around the district, assisting then with weed removal, chemical spraying, tree planting, fauna surveys and fence construction.  Barwon Water’s Community Nursery staffs have also very generously allowed the team to propagate plants for Diversitat’s new Northern Community Hub.  Future teams will be able to use these plants to landscape the Hub’s grounds.

The majority of the work has been completed alongside Diversitat’s other Green Jobs team.  This has enabled a vast array of tasks to be undertaken and an incredibly diverse range of work sites.  A great team spirit has ensued allowing for plenty of fun along the way!  

Wildlife Rescue Project

Earlier in 2010, our Green Jobs team under the leadership of Stuart Quick worked with Sandi Murdoch, owner and primary carer at her Natures Paradise Wildlife Rescue, located in Anakie. The team rewired cages that had been burnt out in the Brisbane Ranges wildfire of 2006. The cages, which had been unusable since the fire, were refurbished with new timber in the floors, a good paint job, rewiring and were rabbit and fox proofed Sandi is very highly regarded by the Parks Vic staff in the region and fellow wildlife carers and the team was impressed with her passion for rescuing and rehabilitating animals. After the tragedy of Black Saturday and the Brisbane Ranges fire of 2006, Sandi had an enormous number of koalas in her care. She also rescues animals that may have been involved in vehicle accidents, are suffering disease or in need of rehabilitation. During the visit, team members met some of the wildlife currently at the park including Sugar Gliders, Cockatoos, Nankeen Kestrels, Brush-tailed Possums, and Pacific-Black Ducks.

If you find any injured wildlife, Sandi offers a 24 hour rescue service and will answer calls as far afield as Anglesea, Buninyong, Teesdale and Werribee. Call her on 0428 341 368. You might also be able to offer assistance or make a donation to this very worthy cause.

For more information about National Green Jobs Corps and to check if you’re eligible - please call Stuart Quick on 0427 885 941 or Andrew Quick on 0437 756 478.