News Item

BUSHFIRE RECOVERY TRAINING RECOGNISED

July 29, 2011

Participants in the Bunyip Ridge Bushfire Recovery Project have been recognised at a graduation ceremony which also marked the completion of the two year project.

Delivered by Community College Gippsland (formerly ECG) and funded by the Commonwealth Government Jobs Fund, the program provided paid work and training for more than 30 people.

Community College Gippsland Deputy CEO, Jeff Tellefson, said this group of graduates were the third team employed by the project and had made a big impact on the lives of people affected by the devastating Black Saturday bushfires in the Labertouche, Drouin West and Jindivick areas.

“They have built on the great work of the previous two Bushfire Recovery teams employed to assist with clearing works, landscaping,  re-vegetation, fencing and many jobs that property owners insurance didn’t cover for.

“Over the past two years, the teams assisted more than 40 individual property owners many of them older people who were not in a position to undertake clean-up or landscaping works.”

Mr Tellefson said the project has assisted redevelopment works at Labertouche and Drouin West primary schools, as well as public reserves in partnership with Baw Baw Shire.

“It has been a highly successful project with participants increasing their skills, experience and employability. In addition to their work in the field, they completed six accredited certificates in horticulture, first aid, occupational health and safety, construction induction, chainsaw operation and farm chemical use.”

Community College Gippsland, Chief Executive Officer,  Bernadette O’Connor paid tribute to the workers and the outcomes achieved for the community, individual property owners and their own skill-building.

“It is particularly pleasing to see the number of participants who have found jobs since completing the program or gone onto further training.”

Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) representative, Adrian Kenny, commended Community College Gippsland and graduates for the excellence in delivering the program. 

A number of property owners who received assistance from the project also turned out to thank participants as well as graduates, families and friends.

Bushfire Recovery participants (in yellow jackets) Frank Poidomani (supervisor)
Suzete Sjostedt, Hannah Naylor Robert Pope, John Deacon, Alexandra Smith, Andrew Gregory, Alison Rees, Doug Wuttke celebrate the completion of the project with friends and family, ECG management, staff, and property owners who were assisted by the program.

For further information contact:

Jeff Tellefson
Deputy CEO
Community College Gippsland
Ph: 5622 6000