Riverina x Boys to the Bush: Supporting the Next Generation

Posted October 27, 2022
 

This month, our Young branch (located in our namesake Riverina region of NSW) hosted a group of local students participating in a program run by Boys to the Bush.

Boys to the Bush is a community-based not-for-profit aiming to engage young boys and men in strategies and initiatives which improve outcomes and quality of life.

Offering a range of programs that support boys to become well-adjusted, confident adults, Boys to the Bush (BTTB) has a proven record of successfully working with some of the area’s most vulnerable youth.

Led by our team member, Nick Hall, the group of year 6 students were given a guided tour of the Young facility, learning about the range of opportunities and career pathways available in a manufacturing environment.

“We’ve been planning a visit like this for a few months, as BTTB has started growing their presence in the Young region,” said Nick.

“They’ve got a strong presence in Forbes and other regional areas, so when I heard about the support they were offering to kids in our community I thought Riverina could offer a helping hand."

The visit to Riverina’s site was planned to focus on more than just a job.

Assisted by BTTB’s Program Manager Peter Butcher and Program Coordinator Dean Bedford, Nick was able to demonstrate and discuss with the students what type of person or ‘man’ Riverina seeks to employ. 

“When we’re hiring or selecting a team, we put character first and skills second,” said Nick.

“Riverina strives to be an employer of choice and we want employees to be proud of working for this organisation and the contribution they are making through their role.”

“There’s a strong alignment between Riverina and Boys to the Bush in this respect,” Nick continues.

“They’re helping boys grow into employable, capable and community-minded men, and we’re committed to developing our next generation of leaders and helping our staff realise their potential.”

Technical skills are an important part of any job, however, the values and behaviours of employees are just as influential, and Riverina takes pride in hiring to a high standard across the board. 

Besides the facility tour and discussion, our Young branch offers ongoing support to Boys to the Bush.

This support includes helping with resume writing, interview preparation, and in future offers of work placement for young men who are interested in pursuing a career in this sector.

Program Manager Peter Butcher is heavily involved in a range of BTTB’s initiatives in the Young community. Peter first connected with Riverina via Nick, through their coaching and mentoring roles at their local football club.

“We work with disengaged and disadvantaged young males anywhere from eight to 20 years old, and the fundamental focus is to surround them with good people and get them involved in the community,” said Peter.

“Boys to the Bush runs industry experience trips, farm visits, holiday camps and trade camps for the boys, all of which help develop confidence and interest in the opportunities available to them.”

From teaching basic social skills, baiting a fishing line, lighting a campfire or learning how to apply for a job and meeting workplace expectations, the organisation offers participants exposure to a wide variety of personal and professional skills.

“This was our first visit to Riverina, and we hope to continue in the future with different age groups and potentially longer stints of work experience for those kids interested in that line of work,” said Peter.

“Boys to the Bush is a very positive organisation to be involved with, and the Young community has been fantastic in its support so far.”

“We’re looking forward to growing those relationships with local businesses like Riverina and creating more opportunities for the next generation to thrive.”

Riverina is proud to support the vision of Boys to the Bush, and commend our own staff for their commitment to contributing to the development of the next generation.
 

If you would like to learn more about Boys to the Bush or get involved with a program, visit their website to submit an enquiry:
Boys to the Bush