Linking culture, community, family and education

When a mother and son became classmates, they were able to learn to support Aboriginal elders throughout their twilight years. Tammy Hendrie and her son Ryley, are carers at Rose Mumbler Village, one of only two registered Aboriginal aged care facilities in NSW.

They are getting on the job training while studying at TAFE NSW, helping them to earn qualifications for the in-demand aged care sector.

“It’s good studying at TAFE NSW with my son, Ryley," says Tammy. "We discuss our training and he asks me questions about what he’s studying."

Tammy says Ryley loves the work and he has a good manner with the residents.

"It makes me proud to see him being so caring."

It's an environment that Ryley values too: “The residents are here for the rest of their lives,” says Ryley. "I’m pleased to be able to make them smile, have a laugh and to listen to their stories."

Being in demand

The number of Australians aged 65 and over is forecast to double in the next 36 years. That means that the demand for care and community workers is also set to rise.

Ryley is on a career path towards nursing. He says that his TAFE NSW teachers were great mentors for his study, and also for planning his future career.

“To learn from someone with current industry experience adds authority to the lessons and gives me a good insight into an industry I want to be a part of,” Ryley says. “I’ve learned a lot, including using different techniques to talk and listen to people. Those skills make a real difference in my day to day work.

“I’ve also learned about manual handling, assisting with medication and how to handle emergencies."

Ryley and Tammy get hands-on experience with residents of Rose Mumbler Village.

Training tailored for you

Rose Mumbler Village is operated by the Illaroo Cooperative Aboriginal Corporation. Illaroo's CEO, Tony Allen, recognises the importance of ongoing training in the aged care industry and says that TAFE NSW workplace-based training is just right for his business and staff.

“You can’t get a better system; we support our staff to upskill with the TAFE NSW teachers delivering the training right here onsite,” Tony says.

“The training that has been customised for us by TAFE Enterprise, means more opportunities to learn for our staff. The training also empowers staff to offer our residents a higher level of care."

“The TAFE NSW training puts a lot of emphasis on respecting the culture and that’s very important to us,” Tony says.

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Get the skills

Aged Care professionals are in high demand, with strong job prospects predicted for the future. If you’re looking to upskill or to enter the industry, TAFE NSW has the courses and diplomas to support your ambition. If you'd like to upskill your team with customised training, contact the TAFE Enterprise team.