Grassroots football and job seekers alike are benefiting from Football Queensland’s new role as a Work for the Dole host organisation.

An Australian Government initiative, Work for the Dole links not-for-profit organisations with unemployed workers who can gain skills at the benefit the community.

Upgrades are well underway around Football Queensland’s Meakin Park headquarters in Logan, with adjoining community club Logan City Kings first to receive extensive maintenance.

Rob Wilson is employed as Football Queensland’s Work for the Dole Supervisor and believes the experience gained in the program is of significant ongoing use for participants.

“We want to give them different skills so if they see another job then they can say ‘I’ve done that before, I’m not scared to go and get right into it’,” Wilson said.

“Basically just give them some confidence to go out and approach people so they don’t feel down.

“I’ve done what these guys are doing and have done – (previously) tried to look for work, found it, and picked up my skills over the years.

“If you don’t get the job there is always the next one. It’s just building their self-confidence up.”

Up to 15 workers will rotate through the program at Meakin Park in an initial six-month period.

Allocated hours will cater for activities include painting, fencing and gardening through to plumbing and concreting.

Wilson, who will teach the wide variety of skills to participants, says enthusiasm is high for the work ahead.

“Whatever we’re asked to do, I’m sure I’m going to have the guys here to help out and we’ll get it all done and looking nice, neat, tidy and back up to where it should be,” he said.

“One week they could be doing fencing, but the next week they could be up here painting or gardening.

“I like to keep them in the loop with what’s going on and when we’re having a new person turn up.

“There’s heaps of work to be done.”