The Conservation Volunteers Australia Bush Regeneration trainees completed their certificate two in Conservation and Land Management after 25 weeks of work that included land rehabilitation, tree removal and fencing.

Regional manager for CVA Newcastle Leonie Winner said the team had also gained training in a range of skills and completed a chainsaw course, chemical certification AQF 3 and senior first-aid.

“These graduates are now accredited for bigger and better things and our goal is to see them all go on to be involved with more projects whether it be with CVA or other companies,” she said at the graduation ceremony on Friday.

The work also involved completing stage 1 of the Hunter River Rehabilitation project at Merrick Park, erecting an aquatic plant nursery in partnership with the Hunter Region Landcare Network and fencing of significant River Red Gum forest.

The training the team has been through prepares them for entry into the workforce and four of the seven have already gained jobs.

Graduate Shaun Cavanagh thanked the CVA and Xstrata Coal for giving indigenous people in the community opportunities.

“There needs to be more programs like this in the area and if more people gave us the chance we can excel,” he said on Friday.

Mr Cavanagh also spoke of the enjoyment the whole team had in completing the course and the appreciation they all had for everyone who made it possible.

Singleton Council parks staff were also very grateful for the work the group completed.

Parks Supervisor Natasha Hain said that they were grateful for the amount of work the team had completed given that the Hunter River is the lifeblood of Singleton and needs to be looked after.