19 August 2024

TAFE NSW has helped a Nowra mum-of-three transform her own life – and the lives of others – by giving her the skills and experience to launch a career in the booming community services industry.

As National Skills Week begins, the Australian Government’s Jobs and Skills Report has listed social workers as one of the top 20 occupations in demand nationally, indicating a strong demand for community services workers on the South Coast.

TAFE NSW, Australia’s largest registered training organisation, is building a strong pipeline of these workers through its range of community services courses, which can be studied face-to-face or virtually.

One such worker is Zahia Arthur, 32, who has had a long affiliation with TAFE NSW, most recently completing a Certificate IV in Community Services.

Ms Arthur left school early and after a stint in hospital administration and the birth of her three children, she was eager to gain the qualifications to find an in-demand career.

“I hadn’t worked in eight years and had no idea what I wanted to do,” she said. “I was in my 30s and had no qualifications. I just thought, I’m going to go to TAFE NSW and do a course and discovered the Certificate IV in Community Services; it was the best decision I ever made.”

Within weeks of graduating in late 2022, Ms Arthur secured work as a youth support worker at a Nowra intensive therapeutic care home, helping shape the lives of vulnerable children.

“It’s such a rewarding role working with kids with significant needs,” she said. “There’s such a need for these type of workers and TAFE NSW provides the most easily accessible pathway to enter the industry.”

She said studying her course virtually had given her the flexibility to balance her studies and home life.

“The teachers were so supportive and it was still in a classroom environment, it’s just that you were able to be in that classroom from the comfort of home,” she said.

Ms Arthur is now completing her Diploma of Community Services at TAFE NSW and will gain credit towards a future Bachelor of Social Work.

Running from 19 to 25 August 2024 and in its 14th year, National Skills Week raises the profile and status of vocational learning in providing attractive career opportunities. With the average Australian changing employers every 3.3 years and the jobs market rapidly evolving, the week is key in educating people of all ages about how vocational education and training can empower them to pursue exciting career pathways.

Importantly, these job choices can help plug significant skills gaps experienced by many Australian industries, helping strengthen our communities and economy.

The annual virtual TAFE NSW Open Day takes place during National Skills Week on 22 August, from 9 am to 4 pm. The online event is open to prospective and current students, teachers, industry partners, community connections, and the general public. Throughout, attendees can explore 12 webinars and other on-demand content, take a virtual campus tour, book one-on-one meetings with teachers, or join drop-in sessions to gather information they need to support their lifelong learning goals. 

Register to attend via https://tafenswevents.eventsair.com/virtual-open-day-2024/register.

Caption: CHANGING LIVES: TAFE NSW has helped Nowra mum Zahia Arthur gain a rewarding job in the booming community services sector.

Media contact: Dan Johns, Communications Specialist, Daniel.johns9@tafensw.edu.au, 0477 722 428