Specific TAFE courses help with the welfare to work pathway
Thursday 11th January 2007
TAFE NSW-North Coast Institute will be running a range of courses in 2007 to assist people who are required to move back into the work force after having been on Federal Government benefits.
The ‘welfare-to-work’ policy, which came into effect on 1 July, 2006 mainly affects people on the Disability Support Pension, Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance (job seekers only) or who have been receiving Parenting Payments. The courses offer achievable first steps for people who have been away from study or who have had to leave school early and prepare students to take on further study for a qualification, increasing their employability.
Julie Hinton, who completed her Certificate II in Career Education and Employment for Women (90190NSW) at Wauchope Campus in 2006 has found the welfare to work pathway very relevant. Julie first heard about the course from a friend who had done the same course several years ago and then gained full time employment.
In highlighting Julie’s experience Elizabeth McGregor, Director of the North Coast Institute said that Julie had been out of the workforce since the births of her children, but was looking for a way back to work.
‘Julie found that the Certificate II course helped ease her into a routine and get her head around studying after many years away from it, with the experience made easier by the support she received while studying at TAFE,’ said Ms McGregor.
‘Through the course she also brushed up on her research and computer skills and is now doing further study in a nursing course and is planning to continue to the more advanced level next year,’ said Ms McGregor.
Ms McGregor also referred to Taree student Kurt Croker 23, who is currently half-way through the HSC program at the Institute’s Taree Campus.
Kurt had no formal qualifications, and although he had been in the workforce and had been a highly successful first grade footballer, he decided that stepping up his qualifications was the key to getting ahead.
Ms McGregor believes that it is important for potential students to plan ahead for moving back into the workforce and TAFE courses like the Certificate II in Career Education and Employment for Women and the Tertiary Preparation Certificate (91178NSW) are very beneficial.
‘For people like Julie and Kurt, studying for a qualification with an overall career in mind is a daunting prospect,’ said Ms McGregor. ‘These short, achievable courses are an excellent stepping stone along that pathway.’
For specific information about these and other preparatory courses, people should call TAFE NSW-North Coast Institute on 131 601 or visit their local campus.
