Student Stories
Laia Sol Mola - Certificate III in Individual Support
After running my cleaning business for 12 years and going through the stages of becoming a single mother, I needed something more from life that I would feel inspired to do every day and would show my children that you can still develop yourself professionally when you are older.
I had not studied for 18 years, since living in my birth country, Spain. With English as my second language and being away from my country of origin, it did feel daunting at first to study in Australia. I had doubts about whether my English was good enough to write essays and do the homework. I also didn’t know if I was going to be able to run my business, study, do work placement and raise my children all at the same time. But I knew that my love of community and desire to help people was driving me to do something more.
So, 4 years ago I enrolled to study Individual Support in Age Care and Disability, and this reignited my love of learning in the classroom environment. My teacher Bridget was a very inspiring woman, doing so much to improve the wellbeing of people with a disability in the community.
After graduating and in 2020, I was thinking about what I could do to improve on my qualifications and Introduction to Massage came up so I decided to enrol in that and see how it went. Again, I had another amazing teacher and Laura was the main reason I went on to study the Certificate IV in Massage Therapy. I then went one step further and completed Level 1 and 2 of Lomi Lomi Massage Training with Tina Featherheart, another incredible inspiration as a woman and therapist.
In every course I did, the teachers were amazing and there was so much support from student services. There was never any pressure and lots of flexibility made sure I could meet my responsibilities in my daily life and still gain my qualifications.
There were challenges along the way but being so supported and knowing there would be a great reward at the end meant these challenges were worth doing and they helped me to grow as a person. Now that I am qualified and able to help people, it feels empowering to have achieved what I have. I am able to work in a career that I love so much, which now includes running a small private practise and working in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre.
It doesn’t feel like work because I’m being paid to do something that gives me so much joy. I have met so many new people and made so many new friends who I continue to network with as we now try to develop community massage clinics.
The government subsidies that covered my course fees meant I was financially able to study at the College and I would encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity. You will be completely supported by the college and can look forward to new friendships, connections and qualifications that will only enhance and benefit your life.
