Over 20 locals have been given the opportunity to gain new skills and qualifications through Harvest Point Church’s new traineeship programs.
The twenty week long paid traineeship will see the trainees gain a Certificate 1 in Construction, White Card and First Aid and CPR qualifications.
Coordinator Steve Flaws said one group began at Lake Moogerah and the new intake will go through until March 2024.
Steve selected Harvest Point Church as the host organisation because of their commitment to the community and their ability to support the trainees in other ways.
The carpenter of 40 years said he is keen to share his skills with the trainees and to assist them in applying for other jobs.
“Many of our trainees have been at home, haven’t been working and have lost their confidence,” he said.
“We use the vehicle of construction to help them gain some confidence in things they may not have tried before,” he said.
“Then we teach them how to have an interview that is a conversation and they ask a few questions themselves.”
Twenty year old trainee Russell Paulson said he is keen to better himself and gain communication skills.
“I want to find a better job and a career for myself,” he said.
William Coulter is hoping to gain enough skills and knowledge to one day open a tourist attraction on land he has in South Australia.
He is looking at the courses as a stepping stone to that outcome.
Steve said the goal is for the trainees to get jobs after the traineeships.
“It’s to take them from whereever they’re at now and provide them with the environment to blossom and grow.”
“We don’t do the work for them – we get them to do the work. They own that and they take it on into their futures.”
