The programme would see those out of work take on volunteer positions for the event but the Organising Committee are also debating whether to install a work-for-dole initiative, which featured at Sydney 2000.

It comes after a report from Griffith University, the official university of Gold Coast 2018, into how they might be able to use the city’s unemployed during the Games, which run from April 4 to 15.

The scheme has already attracted criticism, however, due to concerns over potential exploitation of people without a job.

Australian Unemployed Workers Union president Owen Bennett and Australian Council for Civil Liberties president Terry O’Gorman are two leading figures to have already expressed fears about the initiative.

O’Gorman claims it raises “questions of fairness and compliance with labour laws”, while Bennett is fearful of exploitation.

Gold Coast 2018 chief executive Mark Peters confirmed a preliminary report had already been undertaken and that the issue was now being discussed with TAFE Queensland, who will help to train as many as 15,000 volunteers for the Commonwealth Games.

Peters insists the programme could only be beneficial to those who take part, adding that it will give them skills and attributes which they will be able to use after the completion of the Games.

“Our question to Griffith was: What is the unemployment scenario on the Gold Coast, are there skills we can tap into? Can we train them up?” he told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

“This will give them skills post Games as well.”

The volunteering initiative for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games is expected to be launched at some point in the New Year.

“We are a training partner for GOLDOC and we are looking at upskilling the 15,000 volunteers,” TAFE Queensland Gold Coast general manager Jenny Dodd.

“There will be about 120 different roles.

“We will look at starting our training in May next year, and this includes looking at upskilling long-term unemployed."