How Jasmine discovered her passion for helping others

Jasmine Azzopardi was already working in her chosen field when she decided to get a qualification from VU Polytechnic.

“I finished school at the end of Year 11 and then had a couple of years off while I managed some health issues. During that time, I started to think about what type of career I wanted.

My mum works as a personal carer and in mid-2018 a client of hers with an acquired brain injury needed help with some temporary shifts that mum couldn’t do. I applied and was accepted for the position. Working as a personal carer gave me first-hand experience in helping people with disabilities, and I knew it was something I wanted to pursue as my career.

When my temporary position finished, I took advantage of the free TAFE courses advertised by VU Polytechnic for 2019 and enrolled in the Certificate III in Individual Support.

I was really attracted to the course at VU Polytechnic because of its short length, proximity to home and the ability to do a lot of the study online. I only needed to complete one day a week on campus. Hands-on work placements at an aged care facility and a disability organisation were also included in my training.

At the start of 2019 I registered with Hire Up, an employment platform that places people with disabilities with suitable carers. Since then, I’ve gained steady employment with two young clients in their 20s.

I really enjoy the flexibility of the role and being able to support people with disabilities to have a better quality of life and receive the care they deserve.”