BackTrack and Council partner to improve outcomes for youth and Dumaresq Dam

Local youth will learn valuable skills and an emerging Armidale recreational facility will receive upgrades through a new partnership between Council and not-for-profit social enterprise BackTrack.

Delegates from the two organisations formalised the next step of an initiative to engage young people to improve facilities at the Dumaresq Dam recreation area, equipping them with skills and experience as a stepping stone to employment.

Participants in BackTrack’s training programs have been working at the dam for the past nine months, building bridges and upgrading walking trails around the site.

Council and Backtrack representatives signed a licence agreement for grazing on sections of the dam site, taking the program to the next phase.

“The licence sets out in more detail what each organisation will bring to what has already been an extremely fruitful partnership,” BackTrack founder and Chief Executive Officer Bernie Shakeshaft said.

“I’m not aware of any other partnerships between local government and a social enterprise similar to ours, which is a little surprising given the benefits our relationship has brought for local youth and the community.

“This new venture provides us with an amazing 400-acre, open-air classroom that helps to inspire our young people and is often more conducive to their learning.”

BackTrack was established 13 years ago to assist young people experiencing difficulties that could otherwise keep them out of training and employment. It has achieved great success in instilling its young participants with the self-confidence, skills and motivation to return to further education and move into the workforce.

Council’s Chief Executive Officer Susan Law said BackTrack was a remarkable organisation and Council treasured the opportunity to work with the group and make a positive difference for many young lives.

Ms Law said the partnership also brought a very cost effective way to make major improvements to the dam site, as Council sought to enhance the picturesque location as an asset for recreation, tourism and community events.

“The work being undertaken by BackTrack will go hand in hand with improvements planned as part of a masterplan for Dumaresq Dam,” she said.

“The plan includes cabins, barbecue facilities, better toilet facilities and mountain bike trails and has progressed to the second round of a funding application with the NSW Government’s Regional Growth Environment and Tourism Fund.”

BackTrack’s Social Enterprise Business Development Manager, Marcus Watson, said the work to be undertaken by the trainees would include fence construction, trail construction and vegetation management, incorporating aquatic plants.

 Mr Watson said the project was part of BackTrack’s Youth Employment Innovation Challenge, which aimed to guide 35 youth people into employment.

Published on 20 Sep 2018