MEEDAC purchased the 70 Piesse Street lot, formerly an Eagle Petroleum outlet, in October 2017 to establish its interactive learning Youth Diversionary Program. Aboriginal youths involved in the initiative have helped refurbish the building, which has been rebranded the MEEDAC Boulder Trading Post.
Under the program, the youths involved will operate the workshop to offer vehicle services, repairs and equipment hire. The program is designed to offer a hands-on learning environment to promote the recruitment of Aboriginal youths seeking employment in the Goldfields. The program supervisor will train four youths at the workshop each day, with two completing a morning shift and two working an afternoon shift under his guidance.
The initiative is poised to expand once the shop front is open and fuel bowers are installed, opening four new customer service-focused positions. While training through the program, MEEDAC officials will help participants seek work with Kalgoorlie-Boulder organisations.