Re-training for success
Preston Reservoir Adult Community Education
Transcript of Retraining for Success video (DOC, 26.5 KB)
When Andy migrated from Burma to Australia in 2009 to care for his mother, he never imagined that he would have to re-train in order to find work. Andy had a number of jobs over his working life in Burma, giving him a wide variety of skills, but after almost a year of job applications and unsuccessful interviews Andy was still unemployed and in despair.
Andy needed to gain vocational skills that would qualify him for employment in Australia but he couldn’t afford the fees or time to study through TAFE or University. Fortunately, his mother saw an ad for Preston Reservoir Adult Community Education (PRACE) in the local newspaper, and Andy’s problems were on their way to being solved.
PRACE is a Learn Local organisation committed to meeting the language, literacy and numeracy, vocational training and further education needs of the local community.
Andy visited PRACE to find out more about the courses on offer and on-the-spot he enrolled in a Certificate II in Asset Maintenance (Cleaning Operations). He admits to being nervous about studying and was terrified in the lead-up to starting his course. But, to his delight, when he arrived for the first class he was made to feel welcome and the training was delivered in a way that everyone in the class could follow, regardless of their previous education.
When Andy was only halfway through his Certificate II he saw an ad for a cleaning role. With the help of his PRACE instructor, he applied for the job. Initially he was hired for only one hour per week, but very quickly his employer realised his potential and Andy now works 30 (flex) hours per week which allows him to continue to care for his mother and carry out additional family responsibilities.
Andy’s employer wishes he “had more Andys”!