Aged care students training with STEPS Education and Training have good cause to feel confident that their hard earned efforts will pay off.
STEPS’ Sunshine Coast based aged care training are proud to boast a 98% average for students gaining employment either during or immediately following their training.
Aged Care Trainer Wendy Nunn puts the success of the program down to a number of course design elements that have put the not for profit organisation ahead of the rest when it comes to getting results for their students.
“I would say there are a few important factors we do differently to other providers that help our students gain work”, Ms Nunn said.
“We undertake the mandatory police checks for our students so they are cleared before they enter the facility for work placement, and we incorporate a first aid qualification into our course which is also mandatory for employment. But the thing that really sets us apart is our approach to the compulsory work placement”.
While most aged care students are required to secure their own work placement at the end of their studies, STEPS students undertake work placement throughout the duration of their studies and are not left alone to tackle the difficult task of finding an employer willing to take them on.
Course graduate Karen Nicholson said it was a relief to many of the students to have facilities already lined up for job placement, or in her case, having the trainers arrange for placement in a facility of her choice.
“Our trainer would visit us regularly during our placement and was only a phone call away if needed, you felt supported as it can be a very daunting environment”, Ms Nicholson said.
STEPS students are also lucky to make use of one of the Sunshine Coasts only fully equipped prac room complete with mannequins, beds and a hoist to practice important handling skills.
Ms Nicholson said being able to practice real on the job skills in the classroom made her a much more productive trainee during placement allowing her to assist staff rather than being a burden.
“Wall flowers are not appreciated by busy nursing staff!”,
For information on our next Aged Care Training Courses click here
RTO 1847
