What course did you study at TAFE SA? When did you graduate?
I studied the Diploma of Counselling and Groupwork, which I completed in 2005.
Why did you choose to study this course?
I really enjoyed roles where I was able to genuinely connect with people, and support people through a challenging time. It inspired me to want to learn more about this type of role.
What job/industry are you employed in now?
I am a Student Counsellor working at TAFE SA.
How did your training with TAFE SA help you to get where you are now?
My Diploma of Counselling was the first step in my training to get to where I am now. After completing my diploma and getting some experience in the mental health and child protection fields, I was inspired to continue on to do a Bachelor of Social Work.
Can you describe a typical workday?
My day starts with reviewing my appointment bookings for the day and checking if any new referrals have come through. I usually meet with a variety of different students across my workday, and support students who are experiencing a range of challenges affecting their life and study. Student Counselling can cover a range of topics, including career planning and support, personal counselling, study related concerns, and disability support. I have a lot of interaction with our teaching staff, working together with them to understand how we can best assist students in the classroom, and whether there is additional support or adjustments that can be explored to help our students achieve their goals.
Suppose a student was considering a career in your industry. What would you advise them to study? Are there any soft skills that would be beneficial for them to develop? Should they pursue any sort of work experience?
Any study in a community services field is a great place to start if you want to work in a 'helping' profession.
Depending on what client group or focus you want to take, there are a range of specialisations that you can follow, including youth work, disability support, education support, counselling - and that's just to name a few.
Working in the 'helping' professions, you need to have compassion and patience, and also to have strong interpersonal skills to be able to connect with people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
Doing volunteer work or work experience in any community service areas will give you a lot of insights into the field, and also into yourself and the way you engage with people.
What do you love most about your job? What kind of tasks do you enjoy doing the most?
I feel that I am so lucky to be able to work with students, meeting amazing and inspirational people every day, helping people to work through strategies to support them in their daily lives.
I love being part of someone's life journey, and inspiring people to keep striving towards their learning goals.
Which three pieces of advice would you give to a current TAFE SA student?