In July 2001, community leaders and local estate workers met to map out a vision for Claymore. It was agreed that future development efforts should create employment opportunities for residents in the areas of greatest need: housing maintenance and beautification of the estate. Extensive consultations were held with all groups in the Claymore community that resulted in establishing the Claymore Community Employment Co-operative.

The co-operative creates a means of developing meaningful and sustainable employment options for residents of the estate. The establishment of the co-operative is also a practical way of developing community leaders with community capacity building and business management skills who will create a stronger platform for the development of Claymore.

The aim of the Claymore Employment Co-operative Project (CECP) is to foster community leadership and create employment through the development of a sustainable co-operative business, owned and operated by Claymore residents, and employing local people.

Other initiatives to enhance the community include a Catering Business, a community park and an employment maintenance project.

Workers at Claymore Catering Co-op: Noelene Nickolson, Jessica O'Donoghue and Keshna Gates
Photo taken by Chris Lane, courtesy of MacArthur Advertiser

The co-operative employment model has shown itself to be an appropriate model for small communities such as Claymore. The proposal has been informed by a number of successful co-ops such as Wastebusters, Mountain Fare and Peace of Greens based in Maleny and Nunga Community Cooperative in Brisbane.

A Catering Business

Residents have established a small catering business (Triple C Catering), now in it's sixth week of operation. Clients are primarily from government and community agencies. Members of Triple C Catering are hoping to visit Nundah Community Co-operative in Brisbane to learn from the experience. Nundah initiated a similar catering project with great success. Triple C Catering has created employment for 16 residents, who are also about to embark on a TAFE Catering Course.

A community park

A community park is being built in Claymore. It involves a number of significant components and will have a range of valuable outcomes for the community:

• The Employment Co-op in partnership with Campbelltown and Padstow TAFEs and other training organisations, will provide accredited training, work experience and employment in the park's construction.
• Micro businesses, such as lawn mowing and park maintenance will be established as part of the Co-operative.
• A Community Services Grant Program has funded a community tool library to be used initially in the construction of the park.
• Campbelltown City Council has agreed to lease a parcel of land from the Department of Housing and provide the liability insurance and maintenance for the community park.

Other initiatives

The Employment Co-operative will also act as an incubator for community business opportunities and assist by providing trained flexible staff.

As the co-operative will eventually be owned and operated by the community, participants will also develop a range of leadership skills including meeting procedures, basic financial skills, business planning and community capacity building.

Key Outcomes of the Claymore Community Development Project

• Thirty residents employed directly by the Claymore Employment Co-operative.
• A further thirty residents will have participated in training leading to employment not related to the co-operative.
• Five micro/small businesses established and managed by residents.
• Community Park Developed

  Much of the training will initially be focused on horticulture, garden and building maintenance, catering and leadership skills. The Community Park will provide a practical component through which these skills can be learnt and practiced. In addition, the Community Park (which is seeking funds through the Macarthur Area Assistance Scheme) will employ services from the co-operative as a first option.

• Vocational Education
  • Twenty residents will have competed Certificate II Horticulture (Parks and Gardens.
  • Fifteen residents will have completed Certificate IV Small Business Enterprise Management.
  • Sixteen residents will have completed Certificate II in Hospitality and Catering.
• Leadership
  • Twenty residents will have undertaken leadership skills development workshops.
  • Thirty residents will have been supported to gain the skills needed to manage the Claymore Employment Co-operative (these skills will be readily transportable to other community projects and leadership roles).

The CECP will further develop the objectives of the Stronger Families and Communities Strategy in a number of ways.

Local solutions to local problems

The Claymore community has a strong history of identifying local problems and finding solutions to them. The Claymore Integration Project, Laundromat and Coffee Shop, development of a Family Centre, advocacy for the building of a footbridge, community telephones and public transport, are all good examples of local solutions to local problems. The CECP has been developed with the community and is building on the community's strengths to find sustainable and real solutions to the high unemployment experienced. The CECP will be based on the continual engagement of the community to ensure the project's relevance and success.

Potential leaders in Local communities

The CECP will actively identify train and support actual and potential community leaders. Through participation in the steering committee, community projects, employment training, work opportunities and business management and leadership workshops, potential leaders will develop the skills to undertake leadership roles in their community.

Can Do Community

The CECP is unique in that it documents the successful development of an employment co-operative in a marginalised urban fringe community. The CECP has not only arisen from diverse organisations and the community currently working in partnership but aims to take this to the next level by building partnerships with business. A key feature of the implementation of the project is partnerships with business being built and maintained. It is these partnerships that provide the foundation for the sustainability of the Employment Co-operative.

Capacity Building

Through skills development, certified training and an increase in employment the CEC project will build the community's capacity to find solutions to its needs.

The project is also designed to assist in the development of community leaders and the building of community infrastructure.

Contribution to National Models

The Claymore Integration Project is recognised as a model for learning in the development of partnerships and the building of community capacity. The Project will employ an action researcher to develop papers and present at conferences in relation to best practice in developing and sustaining employment co-operatives.