31 March, 2021

A West Wyalong aged care worker following the career footsteps of her late mum has urged others to consider entering the industry amid a crippling skills shortage.

Jess Krebs, 22, graduated with a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) from TAFE NSW West Wyalong in 2019 and is now working as an Assistant in Nursing at RFBI West Wyalong Masonic Village.

Originally from Condoblin, Ms Krebs secured a part-time job as a teenager in the same aged care village her mum worked at and discovered a love of caring for the elderly.

“I just like looking after older people and I always think, if not for us, who would be giving them the dignity and comfort they deserve,” Ms Krebs said.

“The caring side of me has always been strong and I’m lucky to now have a job I love.”

Ms Krebs is poised to study a Diploma of Nursing at TAFE NSW in the future to qualify her as an Enrolled Nurse (EN).

The recent Productivity Commission Inquiry Report found by 2050, more than 3.5 million Australians would be using aged care services and to cater for the growth, the workforce would need to quadruple to nearly a million workers.

TAFE NSW aged care teacher Debbie Healey said the industry offered the rare combination of job security and satisfaction.

“The aged care industry is awash with jobs at the moment and if you love helping people, it can be the perfect profession,” Ms Healey said.

“You really are making a difference in a person’s life and helping older people retain dignity as they age.

“And so many of our TAFE NSW West Wyalong graduates walk straight into jobs.”

Philip Anderson, General Manager at RFBI West Wyalong Masonic Village, said the company was grateful of TAFE NSW’s support in training the next generation of aged care professionals.

“We are delighted to have built a strong working relationship with TAFE NSW and proud to have well-trained staff such as Jess Krebs work in our organisation. It is people like Jess that makes our village a wonderful place for our residents to live in,” he 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 Communications Specialist