The Federal Government’s Green Army bill has passed the Senate with bi-partisan support and the Government says the first round of projects will commence soon.
The program will employ up to 15,000 young people over the next four years, starting with 2,500 participants. Green Army applicants must be aged between 17 and 24 and will include school leavers, gap year students, graduates and job seekers.
Environment Minister Greg Hunt said the Green Army workforce will not replace existing conservation workers. “This is about taking teams of 10 – a coordinator plus nine workers – who might do a boardwalk or a large mangrove rehabilitation program to assist Landcare groups and other volunteers,” Minister Hunt said. “Under the project specifications we are ensuring that these are additional works over and above what’s already occurring,” he said.
More information at https://www.environment.gov.au/land/green-army