Mayors Taskforce for Jobs and Ministry of Social Development programme Jobbortunities was set up several years ago to bring employers and jobseekers together using the local knowledge of the council and mayor.
Clutha District Mayor Bryan Cadogan said Jobbortunities and other, similar initiatives had placed more than 800 local people in work during his time as mayor, and this latest initiative was also proving successful.
"Local shearing industry partners like Jock Martin Management have shown a commitment to bringing young people through and into the industry, which is a well-paid, viable career path opening many opportunities for people nowadays.
"Speaking from personal experience, shearing is a beautiful industry to be involved in, and can turn a life around. Young kids who were scraping by on $100 a week now have a chance to progress, and that’s a step in the right direction."
Jock Martin, who had provided two-week paid work experience placements for five of those coming through the programme, said it had proven successful.
"This is an opportunity for some of the district’s young people to try something they perhaps hadn’t experienced before, supported by the hard-working Jobbortunities team.
"We’ve already signed up some of those who are coming through, which speaks to its success. It’s a great industry to get into nowadays, and a stepping stone to many other pathways here and abroad. The opportunities are endless."
Programme participant Nataleah Marshall, of Balclutha, said being able to try something new without the pressure of a permanent commitment was key.
"I’d thought about [shearing] before, but didn’t want to jump straight in without experiencing it.
"Jobbortunities helped me get set up with everything I needed and have checked in on me along the way, which has been so useful to me."
Jobbortunities programme manager Eden Wilson said her team hoped to expand the programme in the district.
"Now we’ve seen it working, it would be great to expand the programme. This is giving young people a chance to get a foothold in the industry, and earn while they learn. It’s been great to see how it’s bringing some of them out of their shell and growing confidence."
