On the Right Path

On the Right Path

It’s hard enough to find work when you’re young and inexperienced but when you’re a young mother still at school, the search becomes even tougher. Nsimire was completing a year 11 Young Parents Program at Balga Senior High School when she started looking for casual work in the retail or hospitality industry. However, with no previous paid experience, she wasn’t having any luck.

The young student discussed her interests and goals with a Training Alliance Group engagement officer as part of the Federal Government’s ParentsNext program. Her dream was to work in the disability sector. Nsimire received TAG’s help to write her resume but was encouraged to first focus on completing Year 12 and when COVID-19 hit, the help received from her engagement officer and mentors at the Young Parent Program saw her through it. After successfully completing Year 12 in October last year, Nsimire kept studying and enrolled in a Certificate III Individual Support course. Not all training organisations are the right fit and with the help of her engagement officer Nsimire transferred to Stanley College to complete her remaining units.

TAG Director Alex Perreira said it was important that job seekers were comfortable with the training organisations that helped them to upskill. “Whether it is the ParentsNext program or Transition to Work for younger job seekers, part of TAG’s role is to make sure that the best fit possible is arranged,” he said. “Balancing family and starting a first job or studying are individual challenges and there is no one-size-fits-all.” Nsimire went on to secure work as a room attendant with Silk Hospitality and hasn’t lost sight of her dream to become a disability worker.

Visit our website for more information on our ParentsNext program.