Paul Thompson - Certificate III in Individual Support

I understand if me doing this course seems totally out of left field. After all, I’ve owned the tyre shop in Mullumbimby for 35 years.  

 I enrolled because I want to make a difference in the world. I’m a caring person and I’ve always got along better with the older generation than my own. 

 I always wanted to be a nurse but feel I’ve left it too late for university study. I have friends who work in the aged care sector and they’ve been encouraging me (ok, harping at me) for years.  

 The thought of studying scared the crap out of me. Since I left school at 16, I’ve only ever done a few one-day courses. The idea of a sit-down classroom environment was very daunting.  

 I scoured the country looking at courses when someone suggested I check out the Byron Community College. I was gobsmacked to find exactly what I was looking for 100 meters down the road! I went in to chat and within moments just said “Shut up and take my money!” 

 I’d just missed a cut-off date but enrolling a year ahead was good as it gave me time to organise my life to make it happen. I rearranged my business but still ended up going into work before classes and during lunchtimes. 

 It’s not an easy time to be thinking about working in the aged care sector, you hear horror stories of what’s happening. One of the tutors ‘sugar-coated’ the problems in the industry in order to give us hope that things could be different and another tutor gave us insight into the harsh realities.  

 I figure if I can go in and make ‘old Mary’ happy, that’s job done. Society has given me so much, it’s time to give back to society. 

 The college was fantastic and the teachers were brilliant. There was gentle tutelage all the way though, guidance, support and backup.  

 The unexpected highlight of the course was the camaraderie that developed within the group. I planned to sit in the back corner and just do my work but, by the end of day one we were on a first name basis and going out for coffee. It was so good to bounce ideas off each other. 

 At the start, I only wanted to focus on aged care but I am so glad I was talked into the disability subjects also – it opened my eyes as well as job opportunities. 

 Since finishing the course, I worked in aged care part time for a couple of months but my business took over again. Now, I’m working part time for a local disability care organisation and am in the process of selling my business to my daughter. 

 I think everyone should participate in adult education. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks but the college has opened my eyes and changed my mind on that.  

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