For many years, Bianca Timofte has juggled being a carer for her mother, who has multiple sclerosis, with school work at Phoenix P-12 Community College.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bianca received a VCE ATAR score that would secure her a place in a Bachelor of Nursing at university, but she has decided a TAFE Diploma of Nursing would suit her better and allow her the flexibility to continue looking after her mum.
Her years spent as a carer have indelibly shaped her future, and Bianca is one of thousands of Victorian students planning to follow a TAFE pathway next year.
“I just want to look after people and take care of them. I’ve lived most of my life looking after my mother so I want to help make people’s lives much better, with the least amount of pain possible.”
Softly spoken Bianca believes the TAFE course will help her confidence and give her a pathway to do the bachelor degree in the future, while providing the flexibility she will need in her caring role.
It's important for school leavers to know that university is not their only option - there are so many great careers that start at TAFE.
- Training and skills minister Gayle Tierney
Minister for training and skills Gayle Tierney said the Diploma of Nursing was one of the most popular courses to be offered free at TAFE campuses next year.
“The Diploma of Nursing is a very popular course as we know those jobs are available and needed across a variety of sectors in our economy. The Diploma of Nursing with free TAFE provides a $16,000 saving in that course alone … which removes the financial barrier,” she said.
Nursing is one of 32 priority TAFE courses and 20 pre-apprenticeship courses to be offered free next year.
“There have been more than 80,000 inquiries made in recent times where people are wanting to know more about how they can access free TAFE in Victoria,” Ms Tierney said.
Ms Tierney visited Phoenix P-12 Community College with Buninyong MP Michaela Settle to speak to year 12 students about the different pathways they plan to take next year.
RELATED STORY: Ballarat schools celebrate strong VCE results
“There are many pathways our students can take: university is right for some and TAFE is absolutely the right way for so many. We have got so many jobs available here in Victoria and TAFE is providing training for those jobs,” she said.
Bianca’s classmate Madison Renton plans to study a Certificate IV in Disability at Federation TAFE, which she said would give her the opportunity to branch out in to supporting people with different disabilities.
“TAFE is a great opportunity for people who want to be out there if you want to communicate and be out there with other people.”
Ms Tierney said the alignment of the free TAFE courses to skills needed in the Victorian economy would lead to jobs for graduates, or provide a pathway to university and other applied learning.
Have you signed up to The Courier's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.
