While much of Perth is still asleep, a group of young Aboriginal men are already hard at work before dawn, tending to seedlings at a nursery in Wanneroo.
By 5am, they’re sorting, loading, and preparing to head out to Long Park; a 7-kilometre green corridor being created as part of the METRONET Victoria Park–Canning Level Crossing Removal Project.
They’re part of Kwadjet Koorl, a 12-month horticulture training program that’s giving them more than just work experience. Run in partnership with Aboriginal-owned Native Spirit Nursery and the METRONET project team, the initiative is helping 10 young men build skills, confidence and brighter futures.
In Noongar, Kwadjet Koorl means “to go forward”, and that’s exactly what the trainees are doing.
“Being awarded the METRONET contract gave us the chance to expand our services and implement this training program which opens alternative paths towards employment and personal growth for the boys,” said Joanne Pellew, Operations Manager at Native Spirit Nursery.
“The training program isn’t just about landscaping – it’s about planting seeds of opportunity.”
Since May, the group has been working on Long Park by mulching, landscaping and planting native trees and shrubs to help create a community space filled with nature trails and open areas. They’re involved in every part of the job. They grow seedlings and monitor their germination then transport and plant them.
Each trainee is working towards a Certificate III in Horticulture, and those who complete the program will be offered full-time jobs. Together, they will plant around 400,000 native plants, including more than 70 different species.
For 20-year-old Oshay, it’s his first traineeship, and it’s making a difference.
“I’m enjoying the routine and the teamwork. We all help each other out and learn new skills every day,” he said.
Nineteen-year-old Tarhj is saving up to upgrade his car and said the hands-on work has been motivating.
“I am very excited to see how it looks when it is finished. We will be planting over six hundred thousand plants which is really cool,” he said.
The training program is part of METRONET’s Gnarla Biddi Strategy, which focuses on creating long-term opportunities for Aboriginal people through employment, training and business partnerships.
So far, nearly $40 million has been spent with Aboriginal businesses on the Victoria Park–Canning project, with around 204,000 hours of Aboriginal participation recorded.
