Neighbourhood Jobs

We provide young people with a program that aims to give work experience and practical life skills to those who for many reasons have had a hard time with school or have had life circumstances get in the way of their dreams.

What we are providing

Our purpose is to create opportunities for disadvantaged young people for self-development, work experience and practical life skills. Every term we commence with a new group of participants who are referred to us through various schools and youth organisations. At the graduation of each term students earn a certificate of attainment.

How does it work?

Active Care Network delivers the program on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays. The participants are required to attend at least two days per week which involves a weekly workshop session and 1.5 days in the field.


Subjects covered are:

  • Work Health & Safety
  • Tool Induction
  • Financial literacy
  • Building Industry workshop
  • CV's & Interviews
  • Apprenticeships & TAFE
  • Alcohol and other drugs
  • Identifying and managing emotions
  • Rights in the workplace
  • Mental Health

Work experience for this term is currently predominately outdoor work including garden and lawn maintenance for disadvantaged persons within Penrith, Blacktown & Blue Mountains LGAs.

The Neighbourhood Jobs Program has partnered up with Tomra and you can now choose to donate your earnings at selected Return and Earn machines to the program.

Every 500 bottles donated will provide a young person with work boots and PPE, so they can get out and get some experience in the lawns and garden field through the program.

Please consider donating your empty cans and bottles to one of the following Reverse Vending Machines over the next 6 months and choose ‘Active Care Network’ on the screen to donate your earnings to the program.


1. Penrith Golf Driving Range – 2-70 Blaikie Rd 2750 Jamisontown

2. Emu Sports Club – 1 Leonay Pde 2750 Leonay

3. Lennox Village Emu Plains – Great Western Hwy & Pyramid St 2750 Emu Plains

4. Club Paceway Penrith – 147/121 Station St 2750 Penrith

5. Chapman Gardens Kingswood – Second Ave 2747 Kingswood

6. Caddens Corner Shopping centre – 82a O’Connell St Kingswood

7. Kingswood Park – 7 Caloola Ave 2747 Kingswood

8. Cranebrook Service Station – 1-21 Cranebrook Rd Cranebrook

If you have bottles and cans you would like to donate, but don’t have any transport to one of the selected Reverse Vending Machines, please contact Emma on 0493 029 973 or email emmas@activecarenetwork.org.au and we can organise to collect them for you.

Thank you for your support!

Get Involved

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Support the Program



Nominate someone disadvantaged for free garden maintenance

What Participants have said

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