RDA Wheatbelt provides alternative learning for youth

Published: 4th September 2012

RDA Wheatbelt (Western Australia) has partnered with the Shire of Dowerin to engage a group of young people from across the region in the Wheatbelt Heritage Rail Project.

The new project began on 24 July 2012 and is being run through the RDA Wheatbelt Youth programs, Youth Connections and WYLD. The innovative project is aimed at providing Wheatbelt young people with an opportunity to gain valuable life skills and a qualification through a hands-on alternative learning project.

The Wheatbelt Rail Heritage project is a tourism initiative of the Shires of Dowerin, Wyalkatchem, Goomalling and York and aims to provide a unique attraction for visitors to the region.

Project participants will assist in developing an interpretive static display at the old Wheat Bin at Minnivale and the restoration of historic steam locomotives and passenger carriages to allow for a fully functioning steam train service operating between the towns involved.

The project will run over a period of 16 weeks and all participants will complete a Certificate I in Leadership thanks to an auspicing arrangement with CY O’Connor Institute.

RDA Wheatbelt Executive Officer Rebekah Burges said six young people from across the Wheatbelt would participate in this project.

Each week they will travel to Minnivale and work for two days on the restoration of the rail infrastructure. The young people will be exposed to a real life workplace situation, having to interact with different supervisors and colleagues and take responsibility for their own part of the project.

For more information, visit the RDA Wheatbelt website.

Pictured:  Johnson Taylor and his brother Wi Taylor both from Moora working on the Wheatbelt Heritage Rail Project.