Headstart

Molly Griffiths and Paige Jones are two of MSC’s Head Start Program students. They are both currently completing VCAL Senior at MSC.  Molly began a traineeship in Certificate III in Health Services Assistance while still at school.

Both students were offered a place in a program delivered in partnership with Head Start and Frankston Mornington Peninsula LLEN. Through this partnership, the employment component of the traineeship is offered by several well-respected aged care facilities based on the Peninsula.

To meet the requirements of their traineeship, Molly and Paige spend one day a week working at the aged care facilities. Paige says, “it’s giving me great experiences working with people with diverse needs. I’m learning lots of skills for nursing, which is what I want to do after year 12.”

Paige continues, “it’s a whole new experience – it has opened my mind up to a whole lot of things which I didn’t think about. Aged care is more than just old people in a home, it’s so much more than that. There are so many more job opportunities – lots of different departments to learn and work in and the rotation through each department is really a good experience. “

Molly adds, “It makes you feel good about yourself because you have helped someone else. We have developed good teamwork skills, because we always work with others, so we learn from them, and support them as well as the residents.” 

The training component of the traineeship is also delivered at one of the aged care sites, so the students have ready access to tools and equipment used in the industry. The students attend one day a week for their formal training in Certificate III in Health Services Assistance. 

Studying through TAFE is very different. Molly describes it as “learning to learn, in the TAFE style, that’s a lot different to school learning.” Paige and Molly have enjoyed the opportunity to learn new skills and practice them in the classroom, then been able to use those skills when they are next back at work. 

The students will finish their studies in 2022. The aged care facilities are very keen to offer new employment contracts to the Head Start students once they have completed their studies. They will then continue their employment as fully trained and experienced staff. They would be able to they have the opportunity to work as many shifts as they want whilst they pursue entry into a Diploma of Nursing in 2023.

We wish Paige & Molly the very best for the rest of their traineeship!

Fiona Fisher

HeadStart Coordinator