"Over the past 13 months, 46 job seekers have been involved in the project; six of these have moved into paid employment, three have gone onto further study and some remain on in a voluntary capacity," said Leeanne Stewart, ETC's Employment Services Manager - Kempsey and South West Rocks.

South Kempsey Community House Coordinator Mavis Symonds said the ETC job seekers have been active in improving the visual amenity of the grounds by revamping and maintaining existing gardens as well as propagating seedlings, planting, growing and harvesting crops in the communal vegetable garden.

"The ETC crew have transformed the grounds. Before they started there were just a few gum trees here. Now we have gardens which are growing at a remarkable rate that are reaching out to the broader community," Ms Symonds said.

Ms Symonds said the communal vegetable garden provided produce for the local community and was also utilised by local schools as part of their healthy eating programs.

In addition to the employment and training outcomes, the Work for the Dole project has also assisted South Kempsey Community House in gaining further funding for expansion and improvement.

One of the job seekers who worked on the garden and is now self-employed is 50-year-old Mark Fitzgerald.

"After 2-3 years of being unemployed, working for the dole helped me get organised and back into a work routine," Mr Fitzgerald said.

"I learnt a lot and developed a keener interest for gardening which I now use in my own business, Loraydan Camping and Accommodation."

The South Kempsey Community House Work for the Dole project is funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).