General News

Green Central to address youth unemployment

Youthconnections.com.au’s Green Central – Business Incubation, Social Enterprise and Education (BISEE) project is a timely initiative in light of the Central Coast’s 40% youth unemployment rate.

Awarded nearly $1.8 million by the Federal Government, Chief Executive Officer of Youthconnections.com.au, Maggie MacFie said Green Central will provide 61 apprenticeships and traineeships for local young people. "More than 70% of kids on the Coast aren’t moving on to higher education or training,” she said. “Somebody has to do it for them.”

Focusing on skills in demand, such as construction, metals, wood-related trades, horticulture and engineering, young people will also learn ‘green skills’ across their industry, including permaculture and retrofitting sustainable technologies such as wind and solar panels.

Sustainable long term jobs are also a major objective of the project. Establishing a wholesale nursery, cafe and education centre where the public, special interest groups and schools can access information and have hands-on experience and will create many employment opportunities incorporating disabled and aboriginal youth.

Businesses with a sustainable focus will also be invited to participate in the incubation and social enterprise aspect of the project, aiming to create synergies between organisations operating within the space.

Located on almost four acres at Mt Penang Parklands, Ms MacFie said this site was chosen for its regional accessibility. “It needed to be on the freeway to attract business from Newcastle and Sydney,” she said. “It’s the perfect place for a lot of jobs.”

Trade Training Centre to address skills shortages

An initiative of Central Coast Secondary School Principals and Directors of School Education in the region will see the formulation of a Central Coast East Trade Training Centre (CCETC). The Centre is to be based in high schools in the east of the Coast including Erina, Terrigal, Kincumber, and the three campuses of Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College.

The consortium is planning to work together and in partnership with local businesses and industry so that they can address skill shortages and ensure that students are better prepared for employment. By developing trade training pathways, schools can provide better opportunities for all students as well as allowing the community to prosper through increased productivity, earnings and local employment. It is also easier for businesses to deal with one contact rather than multiple schools.

To assist in this program, the Federal Government has provided the opportunity for schools to apply for funding, up to $1.5 million per school, to improve facilities that will be used to address trade training. The CCETC is intending to focus on building and construction, hospitality, service industries, retail, tourism, metals and engineering, automotive and small business. An integral part of their approach is to work with local businesses to ensure the best possible outcomes.

This plan is part of a Central Coast strategic view of academic and vocational education in schools and intends to improve focus on the needs of business whilst improving the retention of students so they complete Year 12 or equivalent – learning or earning.

The Central Coast is broken into four sectors who will all work with each other to deliver opportunities for students and different employers. The Australian Technical College, which is now under the Department of Education and Training banner, will also be part of the delivery with new facilities to be built to add to the opportunities for students and employers.

Governor General opens East Gosford Activity Centre

Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, AC Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia officially opened the $190,000 Lions Activity Centre at Gosford East Public School in late October.

The Centre is a project of eight Lions and Lioness Clubs in the Gosford area who saw the need to build a “Rehabilitation Activity Centre” for forty special needs children who attend the District Support Unit at the Gosford East Public School. Many of the children in the Support Unit need to use wheelchairs and other mobility devices.

The Lions clubs formed a community funding alliance which includes local community organisations, businesses, Lions from all over Australia and all over the world. Contributors to the project include:
• Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) is the major Lions contributor with a significant matching grant of up to $80,000;
• Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation – $52,000 via the Weeroona Association;
• The Australian Lions Foundation (ALF) – $15,000;
• Other contributors include local Freemasons and the NSW Cancer Council.

Project coordinator Jeff Kukura said, “This is a great project for the Gosford area and the children at Gosford East Public School. It is a real credit to the Lions who are ‘Making It Happen’. Thanks to an amazing effort by local Lions, local organisations, together with Australian and International Lions Foundations, the project has gone from concept to reality in just 12 months.”

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