LOCAL landowners, groups and community organisations across the Nambucca Valley are being encouraged to support an initiative that will give Aboriginal trainees real-world skills and experience in outdoor work.
The Waarugirr Indigenous Corporation’s Burrgadi Outdoor Industry Development Program gives participants from the valley, Bowraville, Macksville, Valla, and surrounding communities practical skills for work in vegetation management, land conservation, fire management, civil construction and related outdoor industries.
The program has enrolled 25 participants.
They have received training in chainsaw operations, basic firefighting, chemical handling, first aid and CPR, four-wheel driving and recovery, venomous snake catch and release, excavator and skid steer operations, working at heights on elevated work platforms and in confined spaces, and tree lopping and pruning.
Now the corporation is looking for work sites in the region.
Managing director Matthew Smith said the program has generated a great response from the local community and places filled quickly.
“Participants say they have been waiting a long while for a program like this to come along,” Mr Smith said.
“The next step is connecting participants with more suitable work sites. I encourage landholders and local organisations with appropriate projects to get in touch with us.”
The program is being delivered across the Bellingen and Nambucca local government areas, with benefits expected for communities including Bowraville, Nambucca, Macksville, Taylor’s Arm, Bellingen, Darkwood, Urunga, Kalang and surrounding areas.
Work experience has also begun, including nine days of hazard reduction burning on private properties using traditional mosaic methods, and two days of bush regeneration.
The corporation is now seeking additional sites where participants can safely practice new skills that deliver practical benefits for the community, such as stump and shrub removals, drainage improvement works, rural fencing, exotic tree removals or pruning, trail maintenance, slope stability and revegetation works, invasive weed treatment, pest trapping and snake relocations.
The project was an example of community-led economic development creating practical pathways into local jobs, according to Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Executive Director Harriet Whyte.
“The program is helping participants gain nationally recognised skills, paid work experience and industry connections in sectors that are vital to regional NSW,” Ms Whyte said.
“These are practical skills that support local industries, help strengthen resilience to fire, flood and environmental challenges.
“They are also creating new opportunities for people to work on Country and contribute to their communities.”
The program was awarded $467,274 from the NSW Government’s Regional Development Trust Fund.
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