Adult Education the Key to a New Life

Case study: Rachelle Collett

Enrolling in an adult education program changed single Mum, Rachelle Collett’s life.

By the time she got to Year 10, Rachelle Collett had attended seven different schools across different states. She left school halfway though Year 10 and started work in a clothing factory. At 17, Rachelle became pregnant and soon after became a single parent.

Many years and two more children later, Rachelle made a decision that changed her life – she enrolled in an adult education program at her local neighbourhood centre.

How did your return to education start?

I was going through a very rough patch with the children’s father, so I started going to counselling. The counsellor was friends with the lady who was doing the Making Tracks program at the Rosewall Neighborhood Centre and encouraged me to do it. That’s where it all started.

What made you want to do some training?

I needed to make my life happy for my children. I was a single parent with two little ones and my eldest daughter. But I had no ambition at first to better myself, because I had a lot of problems and I didn’t have much self esteem. It can be isolating being a Mum with two young kids, especially because you’re only communicating with children as well.

How did going to the Neighborhood Centre help you?

Making Tracks is for people who aren’t really doing anything and want to make their way into the workforce. It helps you with your self esteem and it helps you to realise what things you are good at. My confidence just grew so much from everyone’s support at the Centre.

That started me thinking about what I could do. I’d always been good with children and been a nurturing sort of person, so I thought aged care would be rewarding. I’d also done volunteer work in the community with people with disabilities and I really enjoyed taking care of them.

I thought working in aged care would be a really good goal for me and for once in my life I thought I could actually do it.

What study did you do?

I did a Certificate III in Aged Care at Rosewall Community Centre. I also did a computer course, because I’d never known how to use a computer. Using a computer for the first time opened up a whole new world for me - the internet and everything. I was so clueless before that!

I also did courses in first aid, food handling and health and safety. That meant I had different work options, especially in hospitality.

Has the training helped you find work?

I did a placement at an aged care home as part of my Certificate training. When I did that I fell in love with it. I loved the residents and I got along really well with all the staff; it was excellent. I was actually happy to get up at five o’clock in the morning to make the seven o’clock shift!

The placement was for three weeks and the lady there was really impressed with me. When I finished, they told me to put in an application for a position. That’s really my goal now. The kids are starting school next year so that will give me time to work.

What advice would you give anyone who’d like to return to education but lacks confidence?

Just make a start! Get out there and talk to people – it’s networking. Get advice! Just being out there in the community helps you get ready.

Download a copy of Rachelle's story

Adult Education the Key to a New Life (PDF, 139.98 KB) Enrolling in an adult education program changed single mum Rachelle Collett’s life.