Local sisters Amy Holton and Tanesha Brown are passionate about aged care and want to change people’s perspectives of the industry by sharing their pathways working with local Central Coast residential aged care provider, Alino Living.
While the industry maps out career pathways and works towards a plan to better train and attract young people, the independent aged care organisation has created their own training and workforce program and is proud to have the support of local RTO, ET Australia.
The recruitment program, which has supported the organisation through the pandemic, is helping to address and overcome the industry-wide workforce shortage and is already proving successful with more than 4 students now commencing employment at Alino Living.
Among these students is 19-year-old Tanesha Brown who commenced the Placement Program in February 2021 to pursue her career ambitions of a role in aged care.
“For me, this program was the perfect first step towards achieving my lifelong dream of becoming a nurse,” Tanesha explained.
“The program was well structured, and I felt very supported by the trainer and staff every step of the way, plus I made some great friends throughout it, which was a bonus.”
Alino Living’s Placement Program comprises theory, practical lessons and 120 hours of placement in a facility to ensure candidates can learn on the job at the same time. Upon completion, students receive a Certificate III in Individual Support specifically for Ageing.
Now working as a Care Staff Employee at Alino Living’s Lake Haven Court community, Tanesha is thrilled with her decision to complete the course and largely credits her decision to enter the aged care industry to her sister, Amy Holton.
“I have had new doors open for my career, and more importantly, I have had so much love and passion brought into my life,” continued Tanesha.
“I watched on as my older sister built a successful career in aged care and always admired the difference she was making in people’s lives, so I’m excited to now be doing the same,” she concluded.
Amy who started working in aged care when she was just 16, is proud to see her sister following her dreams.
“From an early age, Tanesha would often talk about becoming a nurse; I even recall her dressing up as Florence Nightingale for a ‘When I grow up’ themed mufti day at primary school,” Amy reflected.
“When I began working in aged care Tanesha would frequently ask after the ‘old people’ and during her school holidays, she would come to work with me and show such a genuine interest in making the residents’ days brighter,” she continued.
The growth opportunities Amy has experienced also contributed to encouraging her sister to start working in the industry, and Alino Living specifically.
“I started working at Alino Living in February 2017 as an ACFI Coordinator, moved into the role of ACFI and Admissions Manager two years later, then got promoted again in December last year to Facility Manager at Lake Haven Court,” Amy explained.
“In my experience, Alino Living fosters career and skill development in its staff while focusing on the care and wellbeing of its residents, and I recommend it to anyone who is seeking a rewarding career with lots of opportunities,” she concluded.
Alino Living Co-CEO, Greg Williams said the spotlight of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality had highlighted the negative ‘exceptional’ stories, but the day-to-day operations of the sector remained grounded in care.
“From our perspective, we need to reframe that negative COVID publicity. Coming out of the COVID crisis has been a harmful campaign for the workforce, we need to reposition this vital care work from being a ‘job’ to being a rewarding career.
“Aged care workers generally have a very high level of job satisfaction. They know their work is deep work, it’s important work, it’s about gratitude, it’s about caring and being grateful,” added Greg.
“It’s a very rewarding and satisfying setting to be in and we are pleased that people are taking the opportunity to train and work within our communities so they can see for themselves if it is the right fit for them before they get too far down the pathway of training,” he concluded.