Skilled up and ready for work

Sunshine Butterflies’ first round of trainees have completed their six-month traineeship and are now geared and ready to enter the workforce.
Project manager Rob Purves praised the trainees’ skill level and said the participants were now ready to be hired.
The 15 trainees have spent six months developing the five-acre Our Backyard hobby farm in Cooroibah with a range of projects such as a treehouse, garden beds, pergola roofing, paving and landscaping.
Training manager Kim Lewry said Sunshine Butterflies had used the many contacts they have in the construction industry to connect the trainees to get their foot in the door.
Taela Whitmore, the only female trainee, took out the Best Trainee award, while Asher Buckman won the award for the most improved.
The traineeships were part of the State Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative and Sunshine Butterflies will now welcome another 15 trainees to the farm this week.
Anyone who would like more information or would like to get involved in the Our Backyard project can phone Sunshine Butterflies on 5470 2830 or email admin@sunshinebutterflies.com.au