Student Community Service Programme

The Ministers of Labour and of Recreation and Sport have announced that the Student Community Service Service Programme which last summer provided vacation jobs for students unable to find ordinary work would again operate this coming summer vacation.

Last summer around 2,200 students were provided with employment under this programme It is expected that this year's programme will be at least as successful.

Under the programme, local authorities and community organisations, including groups of students, which provide temporary jobs to students on approved short term projects of a community nature can receive a 100 percent wage subsidy and up to $20 per worker week for certain labour-related overheads. Community or local organisations acting on behalf of community organisations can also be eligible for up to $25 per worker week to help purchase materials where they have no other source of funding for the particular project.

With the expansion of the Temporary Employment Programme last March so that it now covers the types of projects which last year were assisted under the Student Community Service Programme, this programme will this year be administered by the Department of Labour.

Organisations which wish to sponsor projects under the programme should therefore approach the nearest District Office of the Department of Labour which will be pleased to advise on the suitable projects.

Students eligible for employment under the programme must be full time tertiary students or be leaving school this year with the intention of studying full time at a tertiary institution in 1979. To participate in the programme students must be registered with the Department of Labour's Employment and Vocational Guidance Service as seeking work. Students should enrol with the Department as soon as they are available to take up full time employment.

The inaugural programme provided numerous opportunities for students to engage in worthwhile forms of community service from which they derived great personal satisfaction. Similarly, many of the organisations and local authorities assisted under the programme have recorded their appreciation of the help provided. In the light of last year's experience, it is hoped that many more desirable community projects can be carried out this summer.