Central Queensland Aboriginal Corporation for Cultural Activities trainee numbers boosted thanks to CQUni and Skilling Queenslanders for Work

Twelve Rockhampton young people are aiming to grow their green thumbs and upgrade the grounds of the Dreamtime Cultural Centre' thanks to training provided by CQUniversity.

The group are looking forward to getting to work on the Plant Tour Revival project' which has been funded by the Queensland Government's Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.

Central Queensland Aboriginal Corporation for Cultural Activities (CQACCA) Project Co-ordinator Desley Cowley said the participants would undertake an 18-week full-time traineeship while studying a Certificate I in Conservation and Land Management with CQUniversity Horticulture Teacher Kay Pearson.

'Trainees will have the opportunity to develop work skills in horticulture and land management as well as transferable soft-skills needed by employers'' Desley said.

'They will work on major projects on the grounds of Dreamtime Cultural Centre including establishing a retail nursery that will grow and sell native plants to visitors and the general public.

'We also want to re-establish and enhance the Native Plant Tour and Bush Tucker talks to include presentations' information and advice on native plants of significance to Indigenous communities. This will increase the awareness of the usage – past and present – of native plants in medicine and wellbeing and food (bush tucker)' and of the importance of plants in Indigenous heritage and culture.

'Rockhampton Regional Council' who are lessors of the land where the Dreamtime Cultural Centre is located' are involved in the creek regeneration part of the project.'

Desley said CQUni as the Registered Training Organisation because it has a close and long-standing relationship with CQACCA and The Dreamtime Cultural Centre.

This Skilling Queenslanders for Work project is proudly funded by the Queensland Government and will get underway from Monday 19 April.

Skilling Queenslanders for Work focuses on developing an individual's skills supporting them to begin a learning pathway to a Certificate III Qualification and provide direct assistance to those Queenslanders that need extra support to enter and stay in the workforce.