Green Connect is a social enterprise that creates jobs and employment pathways for former refugees and young people. We work in areas that are good for people and good for the planet.

We operate an 11-acre farm in Warrawong, where we mentor, train and employ former refugees and young people, and educate and inspire the wider community in all things sustainability.

Our fair food farm provides chemical free vegetables and fruit that feed over 120 households and several restaurants and cafes through the Illawarra every week. We also produce free-range pork, lamb and eggs and natural honey, and provide farm tours and workshops focusing on sustainability skills.

The farm is based on permaculture ethics and design principles, which is to say that it is designed and operated in a way which links all commercial and noncommercial elements of the farm together to ensures the farm is both productive and sustainable. As well as 3 acres of market gardens, we also have four acres of ecological diverse ‘food forest’ and a massive native regeneration project along our creek line.

The Fair Food internship is a 6-month volunteer commitment of 6-8 hours working under the direction of farm manager Cal Champagne, but alongside our entire fair food team. The internship will be structured so that interns will have some consistent weekly tasks, while allowing enough flexibility for interns to work in areas that are of interest to them. We are hoping to build a diverse team of interns with complimentary skillsets. Most work will be hands-on and on-site, however there are also computer-based tasks that can be undertaken by interns.

Tasks may include but are not limited to any of the following:

• Preparing organic soil for healthy crops
• Planting, harvesting, and maintaining crops.
• Managing food forest and biodiversity zones
• Establishing and maintaining compost systems
• Managing and developing sustainable animal systems
• Supporting former refugees and young people with barriers to employment to complete their horticultural training and work ready assessments.
• Assisting with veg box customer engagement.
• Assisting Green Connect stalls at local markets and events.
• Assisting with social media and community network to promote our veg boxes and farm experiences
• Assisting to coordinate farm open days and other events.
• Establishing infrastructure to improve the sustainability and efficiency of the farm.
• Assisting with the logistical coordination of farm workshops, tours, and events
• Developing communication content for social media and other media avenues
• Assisting with the development of the Green Connect Cookbook
• Doing resource gathering trips around the region (e.g. picking up food scraps for composting)
• Maintaining Kids garden and community demonstration garden

We are hoping to find interns who are keen to ‘muck-in’ with whatever needs to happen on the day, but who also have the passion and drive to take on projects that align with their interests.

As an intern, you will:

• Be part of an award winning team, who care for and support one another.
• Gain valuable experience in community development; sustainability; public health; regenerative agriculture; social work; communications; business and social enterprise.
• Gain valuable skills in the above areas.
• Have an opportunity to take freshly grown veggies home.
• Have access to free GC workshops and events in certain cases.
• Have an opportunity to follow your passions and interests in a supportive environment.

To apply, please email the following to [email protected]:

1.  A cover letter, stating:
   – Why you are interested in this role.
   – Why you think you will be suited,
   – Which of the above tasks you are most interested in (try to reference four).
   – What your availability will be to complete these 6-10 hours per week, ideally on a Monday
2.  An up-to date CV

Applications close on June 4, 2021.  Internship to begin June 28, 2021.

If you have any questions, please email Cal at [email protected]