project highlights - case study

Project

Ngulla Nursery

Client

The Village at Wellard Joint Venture (Peet Limited and Department of Housing and Works).

Challenge

High youth unemployment rates in the Town of Kwinana.

A potential risk identified by Peet Limited of a lack of native plant stock available for the rehabilitation works for the Wellard wetland.

Solution

The establishment of the Ngulla Community Nursery which serves as both a fully operational plant nursery and a training venue for local youth (17-25 years) in horticulture and land management.

The long term goal is for the nursery to operate as a successful community enterprise whilst maintaining its youth development/training role.

Our Role

Creating Communities has played a lead role in conceptualising and initiating the project. We have been instrumental in facilitating the collaborative efforts of five organisations that share a common vision to design a community-based solution to address the youth unemployment problem in the area.

The founding partners include Bridging the Gap/Job Futures, Challenger TAFE, Medina Aboriginal Cultural Community, Town of Kwinana, Department of Housing and Works and Peet Limited.

With project partners, Creating Communities was successful in securing a $239,000 grant from the Federal Government’s Enterprise Learning for the 21st Century Initiative to fund the project.

The company continues to have input into strategic planning and business management of the project.

Achievements

• The nursery project manager and indigenous trainee were appointed in December 2005.

• The Ngulla Community Nursery was officially launched in August 2006.

• 60 students aged between 17-25 years have passed through its doors to date.

• The nursery completed its first plant contract in winter 2006 to supply 12,000 plants for the wetlands in the Village at Wellard.

• An Australian Government community water grant for $45,000 was awarded to the nursery in December 2006.

• BHP Billiton was announced as a new industry partner in November 2006.