AN amazing team of young people from the not-for-profit organisation BackTrack are in our area providing important bushfire recovery assistance in conjunction with Coffs Harbour Council and Rotary Coffs Harbour to repair and replace fences on properties in Nana Glen that were impacted by the 2019 bushfires.

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“They are a great team of young people who are delivering an invaluable service to bushfire-affected residents and playing an important role in the local recovery process.

Being a social enterprise program, the outcomes for the young people involved are as important as the physical work they provide. They are making a really positive impact locally already,” said Melinda Brooks, Coffs Harbour City Council’s Community Recovery Officer – Bushfires.

Ms Brooks was inspired to get in touch with Backtrack after working with another organisation called Blaze Aid that comes in after disasters and assists residents with fencing.

After talking with residents she found however that some had not been aware of the project or were not ready so she reached out to Backtrack.

It is an organisation that enables young people who have lost their way to reconnect with education and training, become work ready and secure meaningful employment.

The BackTrack Works project employs a team of qualified supervisors and trainees who deliver sub-contracting and labour hire services to help their young participants work on real jobs that give them job-ready skills and accreditation.

Marcus Watson, Manager of Social Enterprise, BackTrack, told News of The Area, “Historically BackTrack did a lot around alternate learning, engagement, belonging and wrap around youth work.

“As the boys grew older and needed to be entering the workforce BackTrackWorks was born and they are looking to help local communities solve issues such as unemployment, low workforce participation and disengagement.

“One of our big strategies is to teach others how to do what we do so that is teach other communities how to do what we do.

“We want to find leaders in your region and embedded in the community they will flourish if we can get to them and share the model,” he said.

By Sandra MOON