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Training program helps parents get job-ready
9 June 2011
More than 100 parents with a disability, injury or health condition in Liverpool and Fairfield are benefiting from training programs that give them the right skills to get a job.
CRS Australia, a Disability Employment Services provider, is partnering with training organisations to offer flexible and beneficial training programs in business, hospitality and child services for its job seekers. Participants receive a certificate II or III upon graduating.
Alicia Fletcher, Regional Manager, CRS Australia South West Sydney, said, ‘To support these parents back to work – and some of them haven’t worked for many years – we offer flexible training programs that work around things like child care responsibilities.’
‘There’s no classes during school holidays, we offer face-to-face and self-paced training and, training material is supplied free of charge.’
‘We can also tailor programs to suit the language, literacy and education levels of the group. For example, we have run a hospitality course in Vietnamese,’ Ms Fletcher said.
The results have been positive with some parents finding work quickly after graduating. Sharon*, a young single mother from Liverpool, is one of them.
‘I couldn’t get a job because of my injury,’ Sharon said. ‘I just couldn’t seem to do anything right. I was lacking a lot of confidence in myself and what I could do. I was unhappy and worried about my finances, daughter and health.’
Sharon’s CRS Australia consultant suggested she try a training program in business. She said, ‘We thought it was a good idea for me given what I was feeling and what I was going through. I felt I could handle it.’
‘[The training course] was very good and it gave me a lot of knowledge. I really liked the computer aspect of it which is what I wanted for future work.’
Only weeks after graduating Sharon found a full time job.
‘I feel really good now I’m working and I’m a lot more confident. I feel fantastic. I don’t like not working. I’m a lot happier now as I’m not stressing as much about having to pay for medical expenses and things,’ Sharon said.