10 October 2024

A former poultry “packer” and hardware store worker says she has found her calling after making an unlikely career pivot to the in-demand disability support sector - with the help of TAFE NSW.

Liz McKerlie, 58, worked a series of jobs since arriving in Griffith, including more than eight years on the production line at Baiada, but a yearning for a more person-centered role led her to TAFE NSW in 2023.

She enrolled in the Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability), a  dual qualification which arms graduates with the practical skills and work experience to find employment in either aged care or disability support.

After two work placements in aged care facilities, the grandmother of 11 undertook a work placement at disability support provider Griffith Post School Options in May and realised almost immediately she’d found her “forever job”.

“It was the best thing I’d ever done, and they offered me a job straight away,” Ms McKerlie said.

“It’s such a privilege to help people with a disability live as normal a life as possible; it really makes you feel good.”

The disability sector is awash with jobs, according to the Federal Government’s NDIS Review, which found about 128,000 additional workers would be needed in the industry by mid-2025.

And according to website Economy ID, healthcare and social assistance is the third largest employer in the Griffith shire, employing more than 2000 locals – and rising.

Ms McKerlie’s role as a disability support worker sees her undertake shifts in supported independent living units, helping clients with personal care, household chores or simply just chatting.

“These are people who historically used to be institutionalised or just shoved in a corner, but as a disability support worker, you get to make a tangible difference in their lives,” she said. “You really get to know your clients on a personal level and the work is so varied, you never get bored.”

She said studying the course virtually via TAFE Digital, with occasional face-to-face skills workshops at TAFE NSW Griffith, enabled her to integrate the course seamlessly into her busy lifestyle.

“My TAFE NSW teachers all had so much industry experience and it’s great to know I’m entering an industry where there’s so much demand for TAFE NSW-trained workers,” Ms McKerlie said. “I know I’ve found my job until retirement and that’s very comforting.”

TAFE NSW Head Teacher of Ageing and Disability Simone Stuart urged locals to consider a career in disability, saying a growing skills gap in the industry meant jobs were plentiful.

“The majority of our students secure work before graduating,” Ms Stuart said.

“It’s very rewarding work to be able to empower clients to live as independently as possible.”

Media contact: Dan Johns, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, 0477 722 428