A new training program run by BackTrack Youth Works will receive $285,430 from the State Government.
The program aims to equip young people with the practical skills to support communities recovering from natural disasters.
The initiative has been developed based on BackTrack’s experience rebuilding 180 kilometres of fence line destroyed in the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said “whether its bushfires, floods, or any other disaster, BackTrack will be there to help communities rebuild”.
Teams of young people in the Armidale Regional, Tenterfield and Clarence Valley Shires are being taught skills like fencing, construction, and fabrication, in order to create a workforce which can be quickly deployed to assist with rebuilding efforts.
“This money will be used by BackTrack to permanently establish two disaster recovery teams, with skilled supervisors, the ability to train up young people to continue the amazing work that BackTrack has been doing, helping many communities in the regions”, said Mr Marshall.
“This funding will allow them to establish some vehicles, trailers, equipment and also train up a number of young people to be skilled supervisors so that those teams are in place whenever we have a disaster,” Mr Marshall said.
BackTrack enables young people who have lost their way to reconnect with education and training, become work ready and to one day be able to go out into the workforce and stand on their own two feet.
“This is another tremendous initiative by BackTrack; to not only support young people, but also to support communities and individuals who are left very vulnerable and exposed in the wake of bushfires and other disasters” said Mr Marshall.
For more information on BackTrack please visit https://backtrack.org.au/who-we-are/