Jobseekers make birds a home

Karina Cartwright with a Rainbow Lorikeet and a new nesting box with Michael McLellan and Karen Kisala. 154983 Picture: ROB CAREW

By JESSE GRAHAM

JOBSEEKERS will be working to create nesting boxes for the Healesville Sanctuary and wildlife groups in the area, under a program being run by the Healesville Living and Learning Centre.
The Living and Learning Centre is running a Work for the Dole project called Healesville Wildlife Support, where jobseekers work to create nest boxes for animals.
The group, which involves up to 10 jobseekers, learn basic carpentry skills to create bird and possum nesting boxes.
The bird boxes are made to specifications from the Healesville Sanctuary, and will be donated there – the possum boxes will be donated to the Judith Eardley Save Wildlife Association in Healesville.
“The project’s aims are to help participants develop employability skills, build their confidence, sense of pride and self-worth and gain job satisfaction doing something of benefit to their community,” HLLC CEO Karen Kisala said.
Healesville Sanctuary’s specialist keeper Karina Cartwright said the sanctuary was “truly pleased” to work with the Living and Learning Centre.
“Our birds will make good use of these nest boxes during the next breeding season,” she said.
For more information, call 5962 5982 or visit www.healesvillelearningcentre.org.