Prime Ministers Work for the Dole Achievement Awards 2002 - Caring for our Environment
Award: Winner Caring for our Environment
Name: State Forest Maintenance and Recreation Development Activity, Newcastle West NSW
From left to right: Winner Caring for our Environment category, Work for the Dole Achievement Awards 2002, Mr Luke Miller, WFD participant, The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Mr John Berry, State Forests of New South Wales; Mr Mark Trewhella, The Salvation Army Employment Plus; The Hon Mal Brough MP, Minister for Employment Services
Description
The Salvation Army Employment Plus and State Forests of New South Wales have won the Best Activity award in the Caring for our Environment category at the Prime Minister’s Work for the Dole Achievement Awards for 2002. The award recognises contributions these organisations have made to unemployed people as well as their achievements in helping to provide quality services and facilities for the local community.
This Work for the Dole activity provided users of the Watagan Mountains with a safe recreational area. Participants built facilities for picnic areas, campsites, lookouts, walking trails and safety fences. Participants were also offered opportunities to attend training courses in occupational health and safety, senior first aid, nationally accredited cross-cut chainsaw operation and national accreditation in four-wheel driving.
The local indigenous community assisted with local reconciliation issues and offered support.
Participants acquired a variety of work skills and gained experience in working as part of a team as well as independently. They also gained satisfaction from knowing that they are helping to provide safe recreational areas for the community and they proudly take their friends and families to the forest to enjoy its facilities. At the completion of their placement, participants receive a Training Credit up to the value of $800 to pursue further training and a Passport to Employment to help them gain paid employment.