Uniting NSW.ACT celebrates its first Aged Care Certificate III Graduates on the Central Coast

Uniting NSW.ACT is delighted to announce that the first group of in-house trained aged care graduates have now qualified from its inaugural Traineeship Program, offered originally across a range of Uniting’s Central Coast aged care facilities.

COVID-19 has taken a terrible toll right across aged care, for residents and staff. Add to that a range of other well documented difficulties, and it is now harder than ever to find trained aged care workers, particularly in rural and regional areas.

Uniting NSW.ACT decided that practical action was necessary.

The first nine Aged Care Certificate III graduates entered the newly set up Traineeship Program in July 2021, supported financially by Uniting to receive their Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) through its own Registered Training Organisation (Uniting Institute of Education Ltd, established in 2010) and a permanent role at the Residential Aged Care facility where they underwent their practical on-the-job training.

Uniting Head of Seniors Services, Hunter and Central Coast, Marg Strahan, said the graduates represent a major step forward in acknowledging the importance of aged care workers.

“When I first started in the aged care sector many years ago there wasn’t even a qualification to be gained to work in this industry. Now we can continue on this journey of ensuring our staff receive the best training and opportunities to work in aged care and gain qualifications to progress their careers.”

Uniting Learning and Development Lead, Toni Donaghy, said the achievements of the graduates were remarkable given the many challenges they faced whilst trying to study and work looking after extremely vulnerable elderly people during COVID-19.

“This is about looking after the next generation of carers who will be the ones to look after and hold the hands of those in our community who need it most. Thank you to all of you for this wonderful achievement.”

As the youngest person to ever graduate from the course, 18-year-old Mikayla Greenwood from Lake Macquarie, was just 16 when she began her Traineeship at Uniting Koombahla at Elermore Vale.

“I had just left school and was in hospital for burns treatment when I decided I wanted a career in helping people and I prefer to work with elderly people because they are so friendly and so grateful,” Mikayla said.

“I find the work really rewarding and this course has helped me to realise I want to continue in the aged care sector and eventually become a Registered Nurse.”

Uniting Narla at Belmont North will have Trainee 56-year-old Jennifer Haywood join them on a permanent basis after also graduating from the Traineeship Program, aged care a vastly different career path to what she has been doing over the past 30 years.

“I am actually a business owner and an architectural draftsperson, however, I really enjoy working with elderly people and the staff at Narla are fantastic and Uniting are so supportive in helping me to achieve my dream of working in the sector,” said Jennifer.

Congratulations also go to the following graduates:

• Paige Gowans and Jazmine-Rose Taylor - (Nareen Gardens, Bateau Bay)
• Sarah Holstein - (Singleton)
• Natayah Jobson and Suntara Samaksaman - (Starrett Lodge, Hamlyn Terrace)
• Rachel Middleton and Jayde Ackling - (Koombahla, Elermore Vale)

An additional 5 trainees from the Lismore area will graduate next month with an additional 4 on track to graduate later this year.

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Pictured left to right: Dr Anat Hassner, Sarah Holstein, Jayde Ackling, Paige Gowans, Jazmine-Rose Taylor, Jennifer Haywood, Mikayla Greenwood, Marg Strahan.