THE path to permanent employment has been paved for eight hard-working youth who spent five months on the Jimboomba Community Hall refurbishment.
This was made possible due to a Skilling Queenslanders for Work grant which provided the wages for the laborers to work on the project in collaboration with the Jimboomba Rotary Club and Yourtown, an organisation which provides employment and social welfare services for young people.
All eight laborers graduated from the project with a certificate I in construction.
Yourtown supervisor Dave Parkins said the project assisted young people with limited skills to enhance their employability and support the community.
“This helps them develop important work attributes like punctuality, reliability and taking direction,” he said.
“A couple of the lads could easily slip into a carpentry apprenticeship with the skill-set needed to become a carpenter.
“This is a win-win for the stakeholders and the young participants who are long-term unemployed and at the end can get gainful employment.”
Two of the young people have already picked up employment, while several others have lined up job interviews to be held after their graduation.
Cody Loweke was one of the workers on-site who said the experience proved fruitful.
“I learned a whole new skill-set, before this I was a bit iffy with working at heights and now I am fine with it,” he said.
“It was also good working with others, I got to know how to work around them and how to help others when they needed it.”
The end result of five months of work has culminated in a rejuvenated Jimboomba Community Hall with a new lease on life.
Jimboomba Rotary Club member David Kenny said the hall refurbishment would future proof the hall for many years.
“The doors used to not work properly and nothing was painted, it was dusty and the panels were falling out,” he said.
“Now the hall has been painted inside and out and we have a new entrance which is almost finished.”
Logan MP Linus Power said the benefits flowing from the project demonstrated the effectiveness of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program.
“Skilling Queenslanders for Work has a positive track record with getting people into employment in the Logan and Beaudesert area...it builds pride, work skills and work ethic,” he said.
“A report into the program showed the value for Queensland from getting unemployed people into jobs had a great rate of return.”
The Jimboomba Rotary Club is also seeking any historical photos or information from the local hall, which has been established in Jimboomba since 1953.
The Rotary Club can be contacted on 5546 0555.