Dunedin work scheme offers skills

A work-readiness training programme that the Malcam Trust is running in conjunction with Pact aims to help young people gain hands-on skills for employment. Course members include (standing, from left) Greg Bell (19), Sam Christensen (23), Chris Moore (21), Emmanuel Piuila (19), Robert Lowe (21), Sam Russell (20), Elliot Young (17), Scott Rochford (18), tutors Neil Ivory and Lindsay Baird, (front from left) tutor Dylan Neill, Kurt Te Whana (20) and James Clark (24).

Based on the "Project Green Job" scheme the Malcam Trust runs with Dunedin Botanic Garden, the programme has two teams of four young workers repairing and renovating Pact-owned buildings and maintaining the grounds.

A third team is doing the same work at the Malcam Trust's own Kaituna Youth Development complex at the site of the former Kaituna Bowling Club.

Funded through the Ministry of Social Development's Community Max training scheme for unemployed or 16 to 24-year-old job-seekers, the programme was designed to give young people real work skills, Malcam Trust social enterprise programmes manager Pauline King said.

Supervised by three experienced tutors, the trainees work 30 hours per week and undertake four hours of compulsory training in related work skills, such as health and safety.

"This programme not only provides employment for those 12 young people and the three supervisors, it will also have longer term benefits," Ms King said.

"The young people are learning the kind of hands-on skills that will make them ready for work or apprenticeships."

This was important for trades employers, who needed employees who knew how to work and had knowledge of the tasks involved, she said.

"We can use our trades experience to give these young guys some skills, while getting them into a work ethic," work team supervisor Lindsay Baird said.

"We are also taking before-and-after photographs of their work, so they will have something concrete to show employers," he said.

The programme was beneficial for Pact, which supported people with a disability or mental illness, Pact manager Glenn Murtagh said.

"It allows us to get some extra maintenance done and gives the trainees a different life experience," Mr Murtagh said.

"We are also encouraging Pact clients who want to be involved to help out with the work, which will give them the opportunity to interact with the young people.

"The ultimate aim for us would be to have young people look at Pact and supporting people with disabilities, as a career option."