Ruby finds her path in community care

Currently studying a Fee-Free TAFE funded Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability) (CHC33021), Ruby said choosing TAFE Queensland was a life-changing step after leaving school early.

“I dropped out of school quite early, and I've always wanted to work in a healthcare-related setting,” Ruby said.

“I found that TAFE would be probably the best way to get back into study, and they gave me a very clear pathway from training to employment.”

Ruby is part-way through the Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability) (CHC33021) is an entry-level qualification designed for those starting a career in the community services sector.

The course is designed to equip students with the skills to provide individualised support and care across home, community, and healthcare settings in their local communities.

Students learn how to support independence and wellbeing, develop technical care skills, and build transferable capabilities such as communication and teamwork.

The specialised training also focuses on empowering older people, people with disability, and those living with dementia, while TAFE Queensland’s industry-experienced teachers provide personalised guidance every step of the way.

Studying at the Warwick campus has also given Ruby valuable hands-on experience and confidence as she prepares to enter the workforce.

“We’ve learnt how to make hospital beds and the special corners, infection control, and all the basics you need to know,” she said.

“We’ve also done hoists, bed baths and transferring people from wheelchair to bed.”

With her qualification nearly complete and work placement approaching, Ruby is excited about putting her skills into practice.

“Completing this course gives me the skills to go and work in aged care facilities and properly take care of people,” she said.

“I’m very excited to have that opportunity and just be a genuine support worker. That’s my goal.”

Ruby said the support she has received from her teachers at the Warwick campus has been instrumental to her success.

“They’re always so supportive,” she said.

“If you need more time to make sure you’re doing an assignment right, they’ll help you. You can tell they really want us to succeed and get somewhere in life.”

She also values the inclusive classroom environment, which brings together students from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

“There’s a range of age groups and everyone has different experiences, so you get heaps of different perspectives. That’s something I really like – how much variety there is and how much more it lets you learn,” Ruby explained.

Ruby is already looking ahead to what comes next in her career.

“I might do enrolled nursing and work my way up,” she said.

“My end goal would be to work in forensics or something along that side, so I just want to keep progressing.”

For Ruby, returning to study has restored her confidence and opened doors she once thought were closed.

“I was so scared I wasn’t going to be able to study something that could get me a good job,” she said.

“But TAFE Queensland has given me that hope.”

She encourages others considering a career in the care sector to lead with compassion.

“You need to be doing it because you genuinely want to help people,” she advised.

Upon completing the course, graduates are qualified to work supporting people in aged care, disability care in homes and communities, or with National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) service providers. The qualification also provides a strong foundation for further study in the community services and health sectors.