Participants included young people who are currently in foster care or have recently left foster care and moved into CatholicCare’s Supported Independent Living and After Care programs. Course organiser, CatholicCare’s Young Adult Services Coordinator, Virginia Tsang, said, “Young people in OOHC often miss opportunities to advance themselves. Whilst first aid training is offered in high schools, many young people in OOHC leave school early due to their complex life circumstances.”
The two-day training included five theory assessments, two practical assessments and covered cardiopulmonary resuscitation, basic emergency life support and first aid. Once participants successfully complete the course, the certificate will hopefully improve success in future job-seeking activities. Course participant, Sarah*, is current studying business administration at TAFE and hopes the course will help her to gain employment as a medical receptionist when she completes the course.
Apart from learning new skills, course participant, Sheree*, outlined another key benefit of the group training, “It was a really good opportunity to get to know others in the program as I often feel isolated living independently and alone,” said Sheree. CatholicCare is planning the next course to run later in 2016. If you would like to learn more about services offered by CatholicCare, please visit CatholicCare online or phone 4979 1120.
*Names have been changed for privacy reasons.
