The City of Fremantle is giving budding horticulturists a jump start into a new career in a move that will grow local jobs and help green the city.
The City has partnered with Maxima Employment Services and South Metropolitan TAFE to offer four horticulture traineeships.
The joint initiative will create an employment pathway for successful applicants, providing hands-on experience while also offering a Certificate III in Horticulture.
Participants in the trainee program will work alongside City officers, nurturing and caring for parks and gardens. They'll learn firsthand about the City's work to increase our tree canopy by 20 per cent by implementing the urban forest plan and what it takes to care for young trees right through to managing and maintaining our valued mature veteran trees. The City also manages coastal, foreshore and bushland environments and trainees will have the opportunity to develop these skills.
One of the attractive benefits of completing a traineeship is that participants earn a wage while studying and are gaining valuable skills.
Trainees who are accepted will be taught, guided, and inspired by experienced mentors at the City of Fremantle. With our valued green spaces expanding and the pressures of urbanisation increasing, trainees will have a unique opportunity to enter the exciting and challenging world of modern Horticulture and Arboriculture.
Manager Parks and Landscape Ryan Abbott said through launching this program, the City would be able to support those in our community who are looking to enter the workforce at a time when the employment market is so competitive and experience is vital.
"We want to ensure we're creating avenues for those who are wanting to learn new trades and this opportunity will allow trainees to experience the City's horticultural, turf management, and horticultural programs from a technical perspective.
"Whether prospective candidates are straight out of school, re-entering the workforce, or simply want to change careers, we're opening a door to a pivotal role in the community.
"These trainees are the future of our City, learning the ropes and playing an integral part in providing great public open space for the community, looking after our bushland, and caring for our trees."
This traineeship is not limited to students, the City encourages anyone who is interested to step up and explore this opportunity. We also encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply or come to ask any questions.
There will be an information evening on Monday 27 March from 5.30-6.30pm at the Walyalup Civic Centre.
