Supporting TEAM to build green

March 29, 2021

Training Employment Accommodation Mentoring Inc. (TEAM) is a not-for-profit organisation that delivers diverse training and horticulture services and programs to marganilsed members of our community.  

As part of Melbourne Water’s ‘Our Space, Your Place’ initiative, TEAM was issued a licence to use a sizable pipeline reserve to create the Taylors Hill Community Garden Project and run a series of programs for local special schools and community groups. 

TEAM called on Alex Fraser to help them pave their community garden centre with green roads roadbase, enabling ease of access for their clients with wheelchairs and mobility issues.  

TEAM Training Manager Mat Mason says the charity relies on this support to make their program happen. 

“We really appreciate Alex Fraser’s contributions to the program. We need help from businesses, community groups and government to run a program like this community garden centre.” 

Mason said he hoped the program would engage the community, and that the hands-on skills developed at the community garden would open doors for the unemployed. 

“There are so many benefits in increasing horticultural skills and environmental awareness. This training leads to employment opportunities for people in need, from sectors of the community that traditionally have high unemployment rates. Exposure to this type of work, outdoors with nature, is proven to provide therapeutic benefits too” 

Key Account Manager Elle Robinson said it was inspiring to see TEAM continue to help the most vulnerable people in our community to upskill and find employment, particularly after such a challenging year. 

“Seeing TEAM bounce back after last year’s COVID lockdowns is heartwarming. 2020 was a hard that year was for everyone, but especially so for TEAM’s clients. We are so happy to help them increase their garden centre’s accessibility, so all clients can resume their pathways to ongoing employment and better mental health.” 

“This is such a wonderful project to be involved in. We look forward to the grand opening and seeing the finished product of TEAM’s hard work.” 

Feature image: Alex Fraser Driver Harjinder Gill (left) and Key Account Manager Elle Robinson (right) deliver recycled roadbase to TEAM’s Mat Mason for their community garden project.