4 December, 2019

A migrant who landed in Narrandera for love seven years ago has credited TAFE NSW with helping her integrate into Australian life and gain the skills to secure a job in the booming aged care industry.

With barely a word of English and scant knowledge of Australian culture, the Thailand-born Jantana Alchin enrolled in a Certificate III in Written and Spoken English at TAFE NSW Narrandera, part of the highly successful Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP).

As her confidence grew, so did her thirst to find work. She secured farm jobs at a local piggery and feedlot, but yearned for something more meaningful.

Enter TAFE NSW – again.

Ms Alchin enrolled in a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing), a qualification that would almost guarantee her a job.

A submission to last year’s Federal Senate inquiry into the future of Australia’s aged care industry by Leading Aged Services Australia found the workforce would have to increase from 350,000 workers to 1.3 million by 2050 to meet surging demand.

Meanwhile, data from the TAFE NSW Jobs of the Future report predicted “aged carer” would enjoy the largest jobs growth of any profession in the Riverina region between 2018 and 2021.

Within two months of starting the 12-month course, Ms Alchin was offered a job as an assistant-in-nursing at aged care facility Opal Narrandera.

“I love my job and it makes me happy to be able to help other people,” Ms Alchin, 44, said. “It was great to work and study at the same time to gain practical skills and work experience– work helped me with class and class helped me with work!

“The teachers were so helpful at TAFE NSW and the facilities at the Connected Learning Centre (CLC) were amazing.”

Along with her three classmates, Ms Alchin studied via connected classroom at TAFE NSW Narrandera CLC, and attended TAFE NSW Griffith once a month for a practical class.

This digitally connected method of learning has enabled TAFE NSW Narrandera to dramatically expand its suite of courses offered to locals.

TAFE NSW aged care teacher Teresa Walton said the aged care sector was “crying out” for skilled workers.

“There are just so many jobs out there and it’s a career that really suits people who are caring by nature and willing to spend time to talk to older people,” she said.

To find out more about studying aged care at TAFE NSW, phone 13 16 01 or visit www.tafensw.edu.au.

Media contact: Daniel Johns, TAFE NSW Media and Communications – Business Partner, 6938 1441, mobile 0477 722 428.