Work for the Dole places job seekers in activities where they can gain skills and experience that give back to the community and can help them find a job.

Council’s Director of Development, Planning and Regulatory Services Graham Price said the program will benefit the town as well as the participants.

“Following a suggestion from Business in Glen (BIG) that council should employ a work for the dole program to do a general tidy up around town we started the process with Best Employment in early 2015,” he said.

Mr Price said during the six months of the recent program that finished in August, the town benefited from a range of completed projects.

“The program that has just finished completed works like the pruning up of park shrub beds at the bridges and painting and re-oiling the tables and chairs throughout the main parks system,” he said.

Council Coordinator of Recreation and Open Spaces Graham Archibald said due to the success of the first program a new program will commence in September, subject to the availability of suitable participants. 

“Projects that Council are hoping to complete over the next six months are the painting of bridges through the parklands including Bourke Street and Meade Street, the removal of old irrigation lines under the awnings in the main street, graffiti removal in the parklands, tree planting in Quota Park and general mulching and tidying up around parklands,” he said.

“Council is responsible for supplying all materials and Best Employment provide supervision, insurance and protective equipment which is a significant help to Council as it means we do not need to take someone off front line duties to manage the program.”

Best Employment Marketing Coordinator Kate Ottewell said the work for the dole program is important to participants because it gives them work-ready skills.

“Skills like getting into a routine, work ethic, reliability, working within a team environment, community engagement, self development and self worth are very important to a job seeker,” she said.

“Participants in the program also gain specific industry skills such as horticulture, retail, and construction to name a few. 

“The opportunities are endless and it opens doors into employment, our vision is to see people who want a job –get a job.”