Martin Feeney, Dianne Feeney, Raylene Feeney, Fiona Anderson, Derek Clark, Marty Feeney, Vanessa Saunders and Benjamin Feeney have committed to a 26 week program which will enable them to complete their certificate two in Conservation and Land Management in a practical and ground skills-based course.

The eight members of the Karuah indigenous community had previously volunteered for five days on a project to assess and gauge their interest in the program prior to signing on as Conservation Volunteers Australia employees.

Whilst undertaking their volunteer project the trainees also completed the accredited course Certificate One in Active Volunteering and were presented with their certificates at the launch.

The trainees will work initially on the Great Lakes Council Yacaaba Peninsula Aboriginal Protection and Coastal Vegetation Regeneration Project five days a week

They will work under the supervision of CVA supervisors Matt Forde and Linda Carlton and be supported by CVA’s training department and Great Lakes Council’s natural assets officer Andrew Staniland.

The team will learn practical skills such as noxious weed and native plant identification, weed removal and planting techniques, fence building, erosion control methods and maintaining cultural places.

Representatives from Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA), Great Lakes Council, Karuah Local Aboriginal Land Council, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hunter Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority and Taree Indigenous Development and Employment Ltd attended the launch.