Community & Business
8 May, 2026
Makeover for Mareeba Theatre Group building
THE home of the Mareeba Theatre Group is getting a much-needed makeover, thanks to a partnership with local job provider Busy At Work.
The group’s building on Constance St is currently getting a facelift, with 10 trainees carrying out the works as part of their 20-week Certificate I in Construction course, which is part of the State Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work program.
Project overseer and group mentor Stuart Hill said things were coming along nicely and improvements were already quite noticeable.
“We’re doing a lot of painting inside and outside of the building, we’re replacing the doors, and just other general maintenance jobs that (the theatre group) have asked for us to do.
“The work is pretty basic but the place obviously needed a bit of tidying up. If you would have seen the building before, especially the outside, it’s improved 200%. The committee from the theatre group are quite happy and they’re very impressed with what’s happened so far.”
Theatre group secretary Ida Portella said the makeover was long overdue.
“Our building had seen years of use without substantial updates and unfortunately we’d experienced some break-ins that left damage behind,” she said.
“It was looking tired and in need of a fresh coat of paint, window repairs, and improved security, so partnering with this program was the perfect opportunity to tackle those issues.
“This hall is truly our home base and it’s where we bring the arts to the community. The upgrades make it safer and more inviting, which helps us continue to grow and serve Mareeba’s community for years to come.”
She said the group was thrilled with the progress so far and they were glad to have partnered with Busy At Work.
“All our members who’ve seen the work say the transformation is already amazing and it’s given the building new life,” Ida said.
“Without the program, hiring professionals for these tasks would have been costly. We’ve provided materials like paint, replacement doors and Perspex for the windows, and in return, we’ve had skilled participants doing quality work while they gain qualifications – so it’s a win-win.”
The group of trainees are halfway through their 10 weeks of work at the theatre building. Following this they will move on to the Mareeba Animal Refuge to carry out another 10 weeks of work and finish their course.
“At the end, we’ll start looking at placing them in construction jobs, if they’re found suitable. So this is a really good employment pathway into construction positions,” Stuart said.
Skilling Queenslanders for Work is a State Government-funded initiative that helps jobseekers build practical and employability skills through short, on-site training programs ranging from two to twenty weeks.
Delivered in partnership with community organisations, the programs support participants to gain experience in industries such as construction, hospitality, tourism, and business administration.
The goal is for trainees to finish with real, hands on work experience, a nationally recognised qualification, confidence, and a clear employment pathway. Following completion of the program, Busy At Work supports employers to connect with skilled, job ready participants.
