RECORD low unemployment and a mining boom have prompted a Gold Coast golf course to think outside the square when it hires new trainees - with surprising results.

You'd think it would be easy to find staff for a beautiful, local golf course, working outdoors in the Queensland sunshine. But the reality is there's a shortage of applicants for lower-paying apprenticeships such as greenkeeping.

"It's really hard to find good people, with unemployment being so low at the moment," says Paul Lierse, golf course superintendent at Glades Golf and Spa.

"Don't get me wrong - it is great if everyone can have a job. However, it often means lower-paying trades, such as greenkeeping, suffer in attracting people to make this industry their career.

"We have had a lot of trouble attracting greenkeeper apprentices due to the work in the mines, where the wages are a lot higher. It has created a void in a lot of industries. Our greenkeeping industry is one of those.

" Young people are being pulled away to the mines or other higher paying jobs that are currently in demand."

Mr Lierse says the situation inspired a meeting with the MEGT Australian Apprenticeships Centre, where the idea of hiring people with disabilities was tabled.

"It was Jenny Gill (MEGT Australian Apprenticeships Centre) and Phil Smith (our disability agency) who encouraged me to look at employing people with a disability for apprenticeships," he says.

"This was not undertaken for the incentives, but to try and find apprentices and trainees who will go the distance with us. What we have done to attract more greenkeepers is put a total package together for staff that includes an outdoor lifestyle, a variation of work and an early start time so you have all afternoon to go surfing or whatever and those interested in golf get to play for free when the course is available."

Trainees receive the award wage and are encouraged and challenged to take on extra responsibilities. John Geddes, 18, is a trainee at The Glades who has been thrown an opportunity that might not otherwise have been available to him because of his diminished learning capabilities.

"I mainly work in the bunkers - that means I sweep the bunker faces, repair them and rake them. Around the clubhouse I mow, hedge and weed and use the blower. People here are always friendly. I like working in the team. I like the idea of starting early. I have the rest of the day to myself," he says.

Mr Lierse says employing people with a disability doesn't change the way he approaches skills training very much.

"Every person is different and each person learns in a different way. There is a lot more training required for people like John, but we are all for it and we end up with loyal employees who have gained so much experience and confidence," he says.

"We see them gain confidence knowing that they are contributing in life and finding a sense of independence. Some of these guys have been through the school of hard knocks and have been picked on because of their disability. The traineeship gives them a real sense of achievement."

A lot of the workplace training is practically based and delivered by staff with a Certificate IV in assessment and training. Learning is done in the field and in organised training sessions.

"Our workers with a disability are treated as just one of the boys. You have to get all the staff involved to make it work smoothly. We all want to do the right thing by the community, but we also have to make sure the workplace is effective," says Mr Lierse.

"We feel pride in seeing the guys becoming constructive members of our operation and the community. What we get is a loyal employee with a really positive attitude - keen to work and learn."