Former stay-at-home mum finds new career

CAREER in aged care nursing for Cairns woman Kelly-Anne Hillhouse is on the cards after being a stay-at-home mum with her eight children.

“It’s my turn after looking after all the kids,” Ms Hillhouse said.

The Woree mother is one of 30 long-term unemployed who will take part in an aged care training program in a bid to turn their life around. The participants include parents, carers and older people who want to get back into the workforce, and migrants seeking employment.

Ms Hillhouse said the program, which started this week, was a reflection of putting herself first.

“I’ve never done that, and I’m 40 now so it’s time for a new chapter,” she said.Time 2 Focus is running the State Government-funded $105,010 Productivity Place Program for the next 12 months.

Simone Fielding, from the Dedicated Training and Consulting Group, said the aim of the aged care training was to fill the huge gaps in the industry in the Far North.

“The industry is the ninth biggest in Australia and with our ever increasing ageing population, it’s vital for these jobs to be filled by trained people,” Ms Fielding said.

“We have people from all different walks of life, including one woman from outside Malanda who takes the bus trip in to do the course.”

Mother-of-four Trina Davis, who lives at Butcher’s Creek, about 30km east of Atherton, will travel each month by bus to Cairns to finish her aged care studies.

“We will give them follow-up support to help ensure their sustained employment, and we’ll assist those people who aren’t successful in getting jobs straight away.”