A Register To Match Needs With Grey Nomad Skills?
Getting Rid Of Cars…A La Bogota
April 2, 2008Are You A Grey Nomad Looking For A REAL Experience?
April 4, 2008Liz Howland, a Pastor working in remote regions has responded to our article Queensland Encourages Grey Nomads To Plug Skills Gaps suggesting a register so Grey Nomads can match their skills with remote community needs. Liz writes:
Dear Gail,
I am emailing you because I feel you may have an avenue to get this employment/volunteer work opportunity out there amongst the ‘grey nomads’.
I am a Pastor who travels out in the more isolated regions of south west Queensland and NSW and have found a great need for experienced electricians, plumbers, painters, builders/carpenters for people on rural properties.
Many people on these properties would be only too willing to pay for the services rendered and would welcome these tradespeople onto their properties, let them set up anywhere they wished, or connect them to power etc. to have some much needed jobs done.
I know one family who has had an air conditioner sitting on the floor for 2 and a half years, simply cannot get anyone to install it.
Once a tradesperson was in a district, their availability would travel by word of mouth and they could have as much or as little work as they chose.
I know the ‘grey nomad’ experience would be enriched also by meeting some of these genuine country people.
Maybe a register could be set up on your site with lists of people who would be interested in spending some of their time in this way.
I also have other needs in country churches where a coat of paint, some electrical work, and building repairs are sorely needed. Those who would give of their time to help would be greatly appreciated…
Liz Howland
E: elizabethhowland@hotmail.com
It would be great to get some feedback on this idea – PWF would be pleased to be the conduit. As usual a good idea goes nowhere if people don’t know about it…how to spread the word?
Perhaps we could link a PWF register with Tourism Queensland, Community Building websites in all states, plus other organisations that you ‘out there’ might be able to suggest? Possibly:
- Neighbourhood/Community Houses
- Mens’ Sheds
- University Of The Third Age Groups
- Rotary
- Apex
- Probus
- Indigenous Community Volunteers
Is a register like this realistic? Your comments and/or suggestions would be really appreciated.
16 Comments
You can put me on the list, I’m a retired tradesman and usually spend 5-6 mths a year travelling the outback and would love to minimise my travel expenses
Russell, you’re wonderful!! You’re starting us off – I’ll let Liz know of your offer and she can get back to you. She is probably out of range at the moment, so her reply I’m sure will be enthusiastic but it may not be instantaneous!
There is a casual work register for seasonal workers co-ordinated, I think, by the Australian government …
maybe there could be a section in that, rather than trying to start up something new with all the maintenance costs etc
Apex40 (retired Apex men over 40) also has a website … maybe it could be promoited there
many, like myself, are ‘grey nomads’
Thanks for this lead Kevin…a good idea to link all like-minded people.
Once again,a good idea to be followed up – thanks Kevin!
Great idea as I will be retiring soon will keep an eye on this site. Don’t want to be an old plumber that just goes down the drain!
Well said Geoff, we’ll have a new page soon with some directions for Expressions of Interest in this idea. Keep watching!
Wonderful idea! We would love to have grey nomads come to our place in the future for many reasons. Perhaps some of the nomads would just like to have the rural experience on a property with some barter trade involved. We would enjoy their company and travel tales as well! Waiting with great interest.
We are planning to start travelling next year and would love to know where we can pick up casual jobs. My husband is a tradesman and was hoping to be able to do handyman jobs to help finance our trip. This would be a great idea.
My husband and I are about to retire. He is a great carpenter and I have office skills, can help out in the kitchen or with children. We both have had the police working with children check. Would my skills be of use too?
Hi Marilyn – I would think it’s all a matter of timing. Why not drop Liz Howland an email at elizabethhowland@hotmail.com?
Hi
I think this is a great idea and my partner and myself are intending to travel around Australia and in particular North Queensland next year. We are intending on working our way around and what a great way to meet new people. I am doing office work at the moment but have many other skills and can’t wait to get going. My partner and I hope we can do some seasonal work and anything else that is available. Would love to be in contact with others having the same adventure.
In response to the above comments I advise that there is a specialised net site dedicated to “Grey Nomads Employment”. This is a two way data base for employers to advertise and for potential employees to advertise their services as they travel around Auatralia. We currently have over 600 members with new members joining daily.
Thanks for this info Ken. For those interested the link is http://www.greynomadsemployment.com/
I am a registered Nurse interested in assisting people with disabilities (physical or Mental) Is there a need out there???