The age-old dream for weary workers across the country is to find a job where someone will pay you to do what you love - but unfortunately, few ever get to achieve it, Carolyn Male MP, State Member for Pine Rivers said today.

“Cameron Wardell, 30 from Strathpine considers himself one of the lucky ones after securing a government-funded traineeship working at the Pine Rivers Community Nursery,” Carolyn Male MP said.

“Cameron credits his choice to register with Queensland’s Green Army - a State Government-funded environmental job creation program - with changing his life for the better,” Carolyn Male MP said.

It was a decision he hasn’t regretted as he was successful in securing a Green Traineeship at Kumbartcho Sanctuary in Eatons Hill.

“Aside from the fact that I love spending my days in such beautiful, tranquil environment, I’ve really started to see that there are so many career options for me now,” Cameron said.

Carolyn Male MP said traineeships can give people the skills and experience they need to get a foot in the door.

“Whether it’s young people just starting out, or people like Cameron who are making a career change, traineeships offer nationally-recognised qualifications and a year of on-the-job experience,” Carolyn Male MP said.

“The Green Army will create 700 traineeships and 2300 paid work placements for long-term unemployed jobseekers and recently retrenched workers over three years.”

Pine Rivers Community Nursery Manager Kim Pantano said Cameron stood out from the beginning, “Cameron had that twinkle in his eye. He walked in here and fell in love with the place. As a volunteer-based organisation we need enthusiastic people to help us conserve and protect this precious area.”

“Cameron will be learning all about local native flora through doing nursery duties, propagation and revegetation in the park. He will also be working on our new koala viewing platform doing revegetation and creating interpretive materials to support our environmental education programs. At the same time, he will study Certificate 11 in Horticulture to give him the theoretical grounding he’ll need.”

Unemployed people can check their eligibility and register their interest in joining Queensland’s Green Army by calling 1800 249 215 or visiting www.greenarmy.qld.gov.au. Queensland’s Green Army is part of the State Government’s employment initiative, Skilling Queenslanders for Work.