Centacare course in big demand for students
Eleven students studying a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) attended a graduation event to celebrate their fantastic achievement on Friday 23rd June at Centacare’s head office in West Perth. Photo: Supplied.
Eleven students studying a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) attended a graduation event to celebrate their fantastic achievement on Friday 23 June at Centacare’s head office in West Perth.
Centacare Employment and Training is helping disadvantaged members of the local community gain valuable qualifications to secure employment with extraordinary success through a Certificate III course in Individual Support (Ageing).
Executive Director Lee-Anne Phillips said that the Certificate III in Individual Support is a fantastic course for students to take because it’s a great investment in their future.
“The ageing population of Australia means there is a huge demand for aged care workers and there is a growing labour gap in the industry, so these students can graduate from this course with the confidence that they are qualified for jobs that are in high demand,” Ms Phillips said.
A report published by Deloitte Access Economics last year stated that the aged care workforce employs over 350,000 workers across Australia and has grown by 34 per cent during a five-year period.
The Deloitte report also stated over the next five years there will likely be hundreds of thousands of jobs created in the caring sectors around community services, aged care and health care.
“Our organisation’s vision is ‘to transform lives through education, training and employment’, and I can proudly say we are achieving that today,” Ms Phillips said.
The group of students who attended the graduation were of various ages and cultural backgrounds, including two mature-age Indigenous students, Graham Riley and Annette Legg.
All of the students have very bright futures ahead of them, with some hoping to secure full time work and others who want to pursue further education.
“I plan on doing a six-month course at TAFE and then I can do my Diploma in Nursing,” said Holly Bowe, an excited and ambitious student.
There were some emotional and touching speeches made by both students and family members, many of whom shared their positive experiences during the course and lauded their trainer, Lisa Lee.
“Lisa is absolutely amazing,” said Abbas Hussein, another proud student. “She’s not just an instructor; she’s a person that will help you in life lessons, understand your background and relate to your differences. Without her, I don’t think I’d still be here. She’s such a fantastic person.”
Fellow student, Mr Riley said he wished Lisa had been his trainer many years ago and was very appreciative of her support and of the course in general.
“My family is very proud of me and I feel really good about myself. I’ve got a new outlook on life,” he said.