South Metropolitan TAFE (SM TAFE) student Lynne Ball has completed her aged care training and found employment at the age of 75.
Ms Ball, of Mandurah, is no stranger to the medical world, having worked as a receptionist at a doctor’s surgery, a nursing aide at Princess Margaret Hospital and undertook general nurses training at Royal Perth Hospital, working in care roles since she was 18.
After retiring at the age of 69, Ms Ball moved with her family to Mandurah and quickly discovered that something was missing in her life.
With her son’s encouragement, Ms Ball enrolled in the Certificate III in Aged Care at SM TAFE completing her study with a combination of work placement and online study in September.
“Doing study from home was a challenge with the technology, but my lecturer Karen was wonderful and encouraged me to keep going with the course which was very eye-opening and educational,” Ms Ball said.
Aged care was an industry that Ms Ball could see herself working in after witnessing her own mother’s battles.
“Living in Mandurah I have been exposed to a lot of people who are battling with ageing and I watched my own mum struggle at home. It is better for them to go to a place where they are looked after properly and with dignity,” she said.
Feeling passionate about the industry after her study, Ms Ball applied for positions within local aged care facilities and was successfully employed at the age of 75.
“My current workplace is very open minded and such a high care facility. Most staff there are under 35 but everyone is treated the same, no matter their occupation or age.”
SM TAFE Community Services(opens in a new tab) Portfolio Manager, Rosalie Duke-Stanley, credits the level of training offered.
“Lynne’s achievement demonstrates an amazing example of how undertaking vocational education and training at any stage in your life, can have a positive impact on career opportunities and even benefit your personal life by engaging in a rewarding work role,” Ms Duke-Stanley said.
“It was a pleasure for the aged care training team to be part of Lynne’s learning journey.
“She has secured employment in an industry that is seeking to engage staff who demonstrate a high level of aged care skills and provide care with dignity.”
Ms Ball works 25-30 hours a fortnight and credits her job for helping her to “sleep like a log”.
“I am going to keep going for as long as I can. Aged care is something I am enjoying.
“It is nice being the highlight of a person’s day just by going to work, I feel rewarded and needed which is something I lost when I retired.”
Applications for aged care training(opens in a new tab) in semester one 2022 are now open.