Students from Kangan Institute's Indigenous Education Centre are working on the restoration of the historic Scots Uniting Church in Sydney Road, Campbellfield.

The heritage-listed property, built in 1855, is one of the few remaining bluestone churches and cemeteries in Victoria.

It contains the grave of Neil Campbell, a pastor who donated land to the church. Campbellfield was named after him.

The project is supported by Hume Whittlesea Local Learning and Employment Network, Broadmeadows Historical Society, Fawkner Memorial Park, Cummins Engineering and Close The Loop.

The network's schools, industry and community broker Wendy Mason said the project would give students from the centre's building and construction and land conservation programs a chance to develop skills while working on a historic site.

The students will build fences, garden beds and paths.

"They can use the practical skills they developed and be involved in a historical beautification project," Ms Mason said.

"The emphasis is on supporting indigenous youth and developing skills that make them ready for work and to make choices for further education and employment.

"It was a neglected site and it was feeling forgotten. It would have been lost through deterioration of age and it needed beautification."

Church elder John McQueen, the unofficial caretaker of the site, said the restoration was important for future generations.

"A lot of people don't know about this [church significance]. They say, 'I thought it was just a historical monument' and don't realise we are active.

"This will improve the whole area, the look of the place and when people come to visit they will see the change."

The church, which has a congregation of about 30, holds services every second and fourth Sunday at 9am.

The Reverend Richard Arnold, who joined the church as a minister in March, said the congregation was fortunate to be part of the project.

"The congregation is fairly elderly and wouldn't be able to do this work themselves. So it's great the group from Kangan have taken it on. It's terrific to see the co-operation and initiative being shown."

Kangan's centre is looking for more indigenous people in Hume to get involved.

Details: Rory Smeaton, 9279 2307.