Job Find Gympie helps local jobseekers

CIVIL construction trainer Warren Smith has helped Gympie jobseekers linked with Job Find Gympie to gain valuable on the job training.

CIVIL construction trainer Warren Smith has helped Gympie jobseekers linked with Job Find Gympie to gain valuable on the job training to help them move into the work force.

Job Find Gympie is a local organisation dedicated to enhancing the skills and employment opportunities for local people.

Their latest course has seen students work at the Mary Valley Heritage Railway building new infrastructure.

Job Find Gympie's Derek Whitney said they were aware of planned infrastructure developments for this region during 2009 and beyond.

“We identified a need for job seekers to gain relevant construction skills,” he said.

“I knew of an excellent construction trainer based on the mid north coast of New South Wales (Warren Smith) and I called and asked if he'd be interested in putting together a course to meet the needs of Gympie job seekers.”

Mr Whitney said the course was developed in consultation with major stakeholders.

“We were told by prospective employers the skills in demand would include concreting, pipe laying and fence construction.

“The Mary Valley Heritage Railway had been identified as a local community group requiring some infrastructure work but lacking the funding to do it.

Job Find met with MVHR operations manager Ted Mitchell and agreed upon work to be funded by Job Find that would support the local tourism icon and provide a real opportunity for the job seekers to gain valuable skills.

Over the past month 10 Job Find job seekers have built 40 metres of security fencing, manually excavated a deep trench, laid pipes beneath the workshop floor for drainage, installed concrete formwork and slabs as well as completed chainsaw operations training.

The work carried out by the Job Find job seekers has added about $20,000 worth of improvements to the Mary Valley Heritage Railway.

Mr Whitney said the participants had expressed genuine enthusiasm, pride and enjoyment in the training and their work.

Job Find Gympie is liaising with multiple prospective employers to help secure suitable work for the job seeker involved.

Originally published as Job Find Gympie helps local jobseekers