Disability Services worker takes out Vocational Student of the Year Award
29 July 2005
Jay McLean has his aunt to thank for his winning such a prestigious award in the Community Services and Health Industry Training Awards.
If the twenty-nine year old hadn’t taken up his aunt’s suggestion that he try working with her in disabilities services, he would still have been an IT professional.
The career move certainly paid off for Jay, as he was named the Vocational Student of the Year in the Industry Awards last week.
Jay, from Fawkner, completed the Certificate IV in Community Services (Disability Work) at Kangan Batman TAFE through a traineeship program with the Community Residential Services Disability Division of the Department of Human Services.
Having completed a Bachelor of Computing (Honours) at Monash University, Jay easily found a high paying job in the IT industry. But he began to realise that the fast pace and long hours, often working through the weekend, was not for him.
‘After working with my aunt, I found working with people with disabilities extremely rewarding,’ said Jay.
‘One thing led to another, and I was offered a position in a Community Disability Unit (CRU) in the North-West, caring for eight residents in their mid to late forties. These residents require a high level of care, since none are able to speak.’
‘So it was a nice surprise to win this award - I even got a nice looking trophy out of it,’ said Jay.
Glenda Williamson, Program Coordinator of the Residential and Community Services area at Kangan Batman TAFE, said Jay is ‘exactly the type of worker who can provide committed, quality support for individuals with a disability’.
‘He strongly believes in empowering people with disabilities, and tries very hard to raise the quality of living for these people.’
Glenda also said Jay was a really enthusiastic student, having completed the qualification much earlier than the allocated time.
‘He was extremely organised and showed great initiative. Jay always completed assignments well before the due date,’ Glenda said.
‘Completing in only eight months rather than two years is one of my biggest achievements,’ said Jay. Given the chance, however, Jay said he could have completed the qualification much earlier.
According to Glenda, Jay is highly professional, and a team player with excellent social skills.
‘Jay has a good relationship with his workplace supervisor. I know for a fact that a number of his ideas have been incorporated into systems used to manage the workplace.’
Jay strives to do all he can to provide the best quality care for the residents. Even if it means using his IT skills.
Last year, after being inspired by a video his uncle made, Jay decided to film and make a DVD of the CRU’s Christmas party.
‘The parents of the residents were really impressed when I showed it to them,’ said Jay, ‘So I ended up making copies for all the families.’
Jay even helped one resident rediscover her love of art. He organised for some drawing pads for her, and created a scrapbook of all her paintings and drawings. Jay made a collage of her smaller artwork to decorate the front and back covers.
In future, Jay plans to undertake further study towards an advanced certificate, so that he too can one day become a ‘House’ supervisor.
‘My manager suggested I apply for a scholarship offered by the Department of Human Services. So I plan to do this at the end of the year,’ said Jay.
About the Certificate IV in Disability Work
The course trains direct care workers in residential and community facilities for people with an intellectual, physical, sensory or multiple disabilities.
The course duration is one year full time and two years’ part time.
Jay was able to complete the course much earlier through a formal Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) process, where Kangan Batman TAFE staff develop and deliver a training course to address gaps.
Assessment can be conducted in a number of ways: demonstration, written work, projects, case studies, log books, on-the-job and off-the-job tasks, supervisor reports or a combination of these methods.
