Chloe's building leadership skills for community impact
Passionate about lifelong learning and supporting the health workforce, Chloe Bowie is enhancing her leadership and management skills through a fully funded TAFE Centre of Excellence Health Care and Support training pilot.
Chloe, a Kulkalgal Nation woman of the Central Islands of Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait), began her healthcare career working in senior administration within a private medical practice. Looking for a new challenge and an opportunity to make a greater impact, Chloe enrolled at TAFE Queensland to complete a Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice (HLT40221).
"I had done administration for a long time and wanted to move into clinical care. Completing the qualification allowed me to support First Nations clients in a clinical setting while also continuing to work in management," Chloe said.
Since then, Chloe has worked across both clinical and leadership roles, including managing health workers and administration teams. In her current role as the Medicare Coordinator and Training and Development Coordinator at Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services in Yarrabah, Chloe jumped at the opportunity to expand her knowledge in new areas.
Chloe is one of 20 students participating in a fully funded TAFE Centre of Excellence Health Care and Support training pilot, designed to help build leadership and management capability across Far North Queensland's health and community services sectors. Chloe, a Gordonvale resident, is studying an Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management (CHC62015) for free, combining online and workplace training with residential blocks at the TAFE Queensland Cairns campus.
"While I work in a leadership and management position and have many years of experience, I wanted the qualification. I know the quality of training that TAFE Queensland offers and when I saw this course, I thought it would be a great opportunity to expand my knowledge, particularly around governance," Chloe said.
As a working mum of two daughters, Chloe said having access to fully funded training made a significant difference.
"Life is busy and mums tend to put themselves on the back burner. If the training wasn't funded, I wouldn't have been able to do the course straight away. For others, it might mean taking out finance or paying student loans to be able to better themselves. Everybody's background is different, but to be accepted into this course is huge. It's such a great opportunity and one that I'm really grateful for."
Chloe and her classmates will complete their studies by late 2027.
The TAFE Centre of Excellence Health Care and Support, led by TAFE Queensland, is a joint initiative between the Australia and Queensland Governments to develop innovative training solutions to address critical skills gaps in health, nursing and community services.