As the mum of a child with a disability, Roslyn (Roz) Archer knows better than most how important the role of a support worker is in the lives of those who rely on them.
So, her decision to enrol in a Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) was an easy one.
Roz with son David and their three guinea pigs - Dobby, Rosie and Fluff.
Born from a desire to help others, including her son David, Roz embarked on her study journey at TAFE Gippsland in 2023 to be able to continue to contribute to the lives of people with disabilities with a formal qualification under her belt.
“I studied on campus in Warragul and got to know some amazing people – teachers, staff and other students,” Roz said.
“The industry is different to what I imagined as there are a lot more diverse opportunities and the work is both more challenging and more rewarding than I imagined as well.”
As part of her course, Roz completed a placement at DisAge – a disability support provider in Morwell – where she is now gainfully employed as an Individual Support Worker.
“I love being able to see how the people I work with can achieve their goals, engage in meaningful activities and develop stronger relationships with their communities,” Roz said.
“I feel that for those who are dedicated, committed, caring and empathetic it is a fantastic opportunity to give back and be rewarded through the achievements of our clients.”
With the need for disability support workers at an all-time high (one if five people in Australia living with a disability), there is also a demand for quality training in the industry.
There are numerous study options available at TAFE Gippsland to help you gain the necessary experience and knowledge with pathways into disability support including traineeship courses for those who want to learn on the job.
You can undertake a Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) and once you've completed that, would be eligible for the Certificate IV in Disability, which will allow you to take on more responsibility and move into team leadership and management roles in organisations. Both the Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) and Certificate IV in Disability have a 120-hour student placement component attached to the course.
“I would encourage anyone interested in becoming a support worker and studying disability to look into doing some volunteer work and if you find it rewarding, then absolutely go for it!” Roz said.
“For the right people it is an amazing career and a challenging, rewarding and fulfilling role.”