I am undertaking my training through Aurora Training Institute with the guidance of trainer Janine, who has been fantastic in assisting me throughout my theory assessments. I am anticipating that through completing this certificate and my practical placement, I will be successful in pursuing my desired career in nursing…

In late 2020, I enrolled in a Certificate lll in Individual Support (CHC33015). Whilst completing my final years of high school, I made the decision get a head start on a career. I work every Wednesday, as well as any extra shifts, or double shifts where I can. My employer is Akooramak Home for the Aged, one of the residential aged care facilities in my local town. I am undertaking my training through Aurora Training Institute with the guidance of trainer Janine, who has been fantastic in assisting me throughout my theory assessments. I am anticipating that through completing this certificate and my practical placement, I will be successful in pursuing my desired career in nursing. Becoming a trainee carer has been the biggest and most satisfying accomplishment of my life. At 17, I feel as if I have achieved so much in so little time. The connections I have formed with once strangers, who I now feel as if I have known them my whole life, has been the number one thing I am grateful for. These relationships and connections I have with my residents has been the most rewarding feeling I could ever begin to imagine. The smiles on their face when I walk into a room on my rostered trainee day, after not seeing them for a week, makes all my pain and frustration fade away. Over the past year I have felt myself grow as a person. I feel as if I can persevere and push on with tasks that I never could have imagined having to endure. A stronger sense of caring and compassion that I take into my everyday life. I believe I have matured immensely and have a very different outlook on the world, compared to those of my school friend group. I have felt myself become more aware of different health issues, mental and physical disadvantages, in my everyday work role. I believe this has widened my mind-set on the world vastly and the person I am.