Reverend David Peake, of Broadmeadows/Dallas St Mary Magdalene, has been working hard to give 14 young people a chance to do a certificate II in furniture studies at no cost.

Mr Peake has got the course up and running with the help of Victoria University and the Brockhoff Foundation, and is now on the lookout for students.

Mr Peake, chief executive of a social justice initiative called EQubed, says the course will involve some of its programs as well, including working with recycled furniture.

He hopes the students will be able to learn new skills to further their careers.

"I just had an idea, really, to develop an alternative learning environment. We have the highest youth unemployment rate in the country with a lot of young people not in learning spaces. Hopefully it [the new course] will help to develop certain outcomes where people can have a good time."

For the September 2011 quarter, unemployment across Hume reached 8.4per cent, which amounts to 7239 unemployed people. The national jobless rate during the quarter was 5.1per cent. Mr Peake says anyone over the age of 16 can apply.

"We're looking for kids who are not in school or TAFE who have been unemployed for some time and feel there's no possibilities for employment. We're hoping one of the fun activities at the end will be to build a wooden boat."

Once the year-long course is complete, students will have options to further their studies or look for apprenticeships.

The course is set to begin in the first week next month. To apply or for more details, contact David Peake on 0412 299 839 or email david.peake@equbed.org.au