THE GREEN Army's offensive to fight unemployment in Collie and protect the town's heritage and environment is on the march.
On Monday Ngalang Boodja Council launched its Green Army initiative with the aim of arming Collie's youth and unemployed with skills to secure future employment, protect the town's rich natural environment while simultaneously reconnecting indigenous youth with their land.
The Green Army is part of the government's $2 billion investment in the management of natural resources and heritage, enabling communities to take practical action to improve their local environment.
The overall aim of the projects is to provide a wide range of work sites and other resources for members of a Green Army team to develop skills in Natural Resource Management (NRM) procedures and then apply these skills to the rehabilitation of sites of cultural significance to the Noongar people of Collie.
"One of the major goals of Ngalang Boodja in sponsoring Green Army projects is to provide pre-employment training for young people and assist them in obtaining employment once they are work ready," Dr Louis Evans from the Ngalang Boodja corporation said.
"The corporation is also keen to promote knowledge and understanding of Noongar culture and beliefs, particularly as they apply to caring for the land."
The Ngalang Boodja Council has recently been awarded funding to conduct two Green Army projects in Collie.
Project activities will include revegetating of stretches of Collie River; weed control and pathway maintenance along interpretive pathways in Wellington National Park; rehabilitation and construction of pathways at PCYC's Camp Mornington; and seed collection, plant propagation, and erosion control at the Ngalang Boodja marron farm.
The Ngalang Boodja Council will collaborate with the service provider, Conservation Volunteers Australia on a sub-contract basis, and with staff from project partners - the Shire of Collie, Wellington Branch of WA Department of Parks and Wildlife and PCYC WA'sCamp Mornington - to conduct project activities.
The Green Army Team of nine young people aged 17 to 24 yrs, a supervisor and mentor will carry out NRM activities for 30 hrs per week for which participants will be paid an allowance of between $10.14 and $16.45 per hour.
Gerry Surridge and Aaron Jagger from Conservation Volunteers Australia attended the launch in Collie.
"This sends an important message to the local indigenous community and helps connect people with their town," Mr Surridge said.
Mr Jaggar said not only did it provide an opportunity for local youths to gain skills and experience in conservation but it was also an opportunity for local employers to connect with potential employees.
