After twenty years in the workforce, Anthia was ready for a change. Seeking positive challenges and being able to help people in the community were her two goals. With good timing, she was able to take part in Skills and Careers: Your Way, an eight-week program connecting women to skills, training and industry in March 2021. This was the real turning point in her new career journey.
The Skills and Careers: Your Way is a free program designed to build skills awareness, networks and a better understanding of career and training opportunities to get back into the workforce or change their career.
“As part of the program, I had the pleasure of having a wonderful mentor, Dianne Semmens, Deputy Vice Chancellor Vocational Education, to help me achieve my goal of choosing a new career path in Community Services,” says Anthia.
Mentoring wasn’t the only part of the program Anthia benefited from. She also enjoyed discovering her own unique skills and talents in the Clifton Strengths assessment as it led her to pursue the Diploma of Community Services CHC52015 at Victoria University Polytechnic — a course aligned with her strengths.
As the diploma offers choice and flexibility, Anthia recognises she will have many options in the workplace and for further studies:
“I am confident that once I complete the Diploma of Community Services, I will be employed in the field of Community Services. Although I am not sure which path I want to follow yet, I know I will be able to help people in the community.”
Anthia is really looking forward to industry placements and workplace learning in 2022:
“I have thoroughly enjoyed every single unit I have completed and learnt so much about Community Services. The teaching styles and methods of the teaching staff have been exceptional and of very high standards. The level of support given by the teachers is also outstanding.”
The best part of her study experience is the learning of new materials, being able to share different experiences and class discussion, and working in groups.
Anthia’s concluding and wise words of advice are:
“If you get the opportunity to do the Skills and Careers: Your Way program, I would highly recommend this. Otherwise if you are seeking a new direction but are not sure which course/career path you wish to take, talk to a careers advisor at VU Skills and Jobs Centre. I am extremely grateful to VU Polytechnic for giving me direction, mentoring and support to be in the position I am in today. I am happy.”