July 30, 2014
The Kingaroy Netball Courts are getting a makeover, courtesy of a local work-for-the-dole project being co-ordinated by South Burnett CTC.
For the past four weeks, workers have spent their Mondays and Tuesdays at the courts in Fisher Street, and they have at least another six weeks of work to do.
They have removed graffiti from the old netball clubhouse and are now sanding down the building – which is used as a store room – in preparation for two coats of paint.
Not all the unemployed people working on the project have to be there; there are also volunteers joining in, hoping to gain skills which will improve their chances of gaining employment.
Yvonne Toohey, from the Kingaroy Netball Association, said the project was a huge help for the club.
“Like every other sports association we have only a small amount of volunteers, and everyone is so busy,” she said.
The CTC team also plans to put spectator seats along the courtside, replace the hoops, repaint the court lines and install storage shelves in the main clubhouse.
All up, the work should be worth between $5000 and $10,000 for the club.
Yvonne said the makeover was part of a bigger plan to be able to host regional carnivals at the courts.
CTC Employment Co-ordinator / Trainer Natalie Prenol said the club was paying for the materials but CTC was providing the tools and personal protective equipment necessary to get the jobs done.
The CTC Community Assistance Project is providing a number of not-for-profit organisations across the South Burnett with the labour to complete maintenance and improvements at their facilities.
The next jobs proposed for the workers are at the South Burnett Junior Motorcycle centre.
Natalie said this project could provide the opportunity for some of the workers to get a “working at height” ticket.
The CTC Community Assistance Project will run for six months.
“We hope to assist as many not-for-profit organisations as we can in this time frame,” Natalie said.
“Each volunteer will gain practical skillsets including painting, minor construction, building maintenance and grounds maintenance.
“They will also access a large number of potential employers which may lead to sustainable employment.
“The project is aimed to assist long-term unemployed jobseekers to obtain skills, knowledge and experience to then be transferred and/or applied in the workplace.
“It will also enable jobseekers to not only have a sense of community involvement but improve their work readiness, motivation, confidence and self-esteem as well as gaining a routine which can be applied directly to any workplace.”
Work for the Dole is a Federal Government initiative.
