Community & Business
21 February, 2025
Trail workers complete traineeships
FOUR local youth have successfully completed a 22-week conservation traineeship, helping maintain 280 kilometres of bike trails and planting 3,000 trees across the Tablelands.
The Tablelands Trail Builders Program, led by Vocational Partnerships Group in collaboration with Tablelands Regional Council and Tablelands Cycle Sports, is a paid traineeship initiative combining hands-on learning, employability skills training, and formal qualifications in conservation and ecosystem management.
“We are proud of our first group of trainees, they’ve become confident, skilled workers and have made a significant impact on local environmental projects,” VPG CEO Maryanne Tranter said.
“Their contributions to the park, our community, and their futures have been outstanding.”
As the trainees graduate, applications are now open for the next cohort.
“We’re eager to give more young people the chance to build skills and kick-start careers in hands-on, outdoor industries,” Ms Tranter said.
Throughout the program, the trainees worked alongside Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers, TREAT nursery volunteers, and local environmental contractors, gaining expert skills and building industry connections.
In total, they maintained 280 kilometres of trails including drainage preparation for wet season conditions, planted over 3,000 trees in local restoration projects, cleared 1.5 acres of invasive plants at Wongabel State Forest, and removed 28 shopping trolleys from Priors Creek town link trail head.
The graduates are now seeking employment opportunities in parks, landscaping, and conservation across the Tablelands, with VPG providing ongoing support for their workforce transition.
“While several of the trainees have promising job opportunities lined up, we’re calling on local businesses to consider these skilled young workers for relevant roles,” VPG Tablelands trail builder project supervisor Tim Barker said.
“They’ve put in the hard yards, gained solid skills, and have the qualifications to back it up. If local businesses are interested in meeting the graduates or discussing potential opportunities, we encourage them to get in touch with us.”
VPG is now recruiting the next cohort of trainees for the program, funded through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
Interested candidates aged 17-24 from the Mareeba-Tablelands region can find out more at www.vpginc.com.au/work-with-us/ or call 4091 6411.
Applications close 24 February.
