News
17 January, 2025
Woodfordia funded $620,000 for trainees
Woodfordia has received over $620,000 in funding for a 20-week traineeship program, for disadvantaged workers to gain new skills and get a stronger footing in the workforce, as part of the latest round of the Queensland Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative (SQW).
The trainees will undertake a Certificate I in Conservation and Ecosystem Management, by learning about and helping maintain Woodfordia’s nursery and environment, as well as training in general construction, chemical use, chainsaw operation, hand tools, first aid and CPR.
Participants will get a White Card and can also access support for up to six months after the program’s completion.
Woodfordia Site and Event Manager, Chris Shervey, said the program is a great way to showcase Woodfordia and what they are about in terms of ecosystem and conservation, as well as help maintain the 500-acre property.
“We’ve planted over the 30 years here, over 136,000 trees, so we’re just trying to keep things horticulturally maintained and start progressing into the next realm, which is not in love with the place.”
The trainees are selected through a rigorous selection process involving a series of interviews, with Woodfordia having previously received as many as 150 applicants.
“We don’t just take anybody. They have to be keen to learn and be able to show up to work, so we go through a filter process to ensure the selected applicants are turning up for the right reasons and ready to go,” Mr Shervey said.
“The skills they learn include irrigation systems, mulching, weed identification, ground preparation, and all these skills are pretty basic, Certificate I level, but it means they’ve got a platform to work out what their career path might look like.”
“We’ve seen a lot of people growing through this training over the years and it’s just amazing for us to see the place looked after and new people falling in love with it.”
Successful trainees have come from Woodford and Wamuran, but as far as Beerwah and Beachmere, and from as young as 16 to over 60 years old.
“This is a good chance for people to see how the property runs outside of the festival and gain skills,” said Member for Glass House, Andrew Powell.
“This is a massive win for the iconic folk festival. This grant will allow Woodfordia to go the extra mile and employ disadvantaged jobseekers,” he said.
“In a cost of living crisis, having the skills and a good reference is a game-changer.”
“Woodford Folk Festival is already the largest gathering of artists and presenters in Australia, catering to tens of thousands of people every year. With this round of the SQW program, this treasured local organisation will now have an even bigger impact on our community.”
For more information, please visit www.qld.gov.au/skillingqueenslanders or www.challengeemployment.org.au/
