Free TAFE is changing lives

Some people make everyone feel at ease with their infectious warmth and positivity. Diana Pasos is one of them.

Diana brings this energy to her work in aged care, where the residents she cares for value her passion and commitment. But it’s not all one-sided.

'I love my job,' says Diana. 'I feel like I’ve been doing it all my life!'

And in some ways, she has. Diana grew up in Colombia, where she cared for her great-grandmother, who had advanced Alzheimer’s.

Although she had to make sacrifices in her schooling, education remained important to Diana since she moved to Australia 15 years ago.

She decided to study a Certificate III in Individual Support from The Gordon in Geelong, and she hasn’t looked back.

'TAFE changed my life! I feel like I’ve found myself again.'

TAFE gave Diana the support, flexibility and experience she needed to pursue her goal of working in aged care.

'I received a lot of support from my teachers, and the teaching and experience I received was 100% complementary to the work I’m doing now.'

If you’re thinking about studying aged care, Diana’s advice is simple:

'You need to love people,' she says. 'Our nannas and pops have lived incredible lives and have so many amazing stories to tell. They deserve the best care possible.'

Aged care is a growing industry where you can make a real difference. With TAFE training, you’ll gain the skills you need for a rewarding career that gives back to the community.

The Certificate III in Individual Support is one of more than 80 courses available in Victoria as part of Free TAFE. You can study in areas like health and community services, nursing, child protection, aged care, mental health, and youth and disability services without tuition fees.