In February Helping Hand’s Ingle Farm residential care home welcomed Year 10 students from Findon Technical College for hands-on learning sessions. The sessions were designed to show students what it’s like to work in aged care and teach them skills for their future careers. The sessions were led by experts from Helping Hand’s Learning Pathway and Safety and Wellness teams. The students learned important skills including hazard identification and safety protocols, infection control practices, and safe manual handling techniques.

After each workshop, students had the chance to connect with residents over afternoon tea. It was a great opportunity for them to practice their people skills in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Both the Helping Hand team and Findon Technical College teachers shared positive feedback about the program, highlighting how valuable the experience was in preparing students for careers in aged care. The students were really engaged and showed a great deal of interest throughout the sessions.

“The students were absolutely buzzing when they returned to school from their workshops. We are incredibly thankful to Helping Hand for their investment in the experience of our students.” — Tara Budarick, Health and Social Support Lead at Findon Technical College.

These workshops form part of an ongoing strategic partnership between Findon Technical College and leading aged care providers Helping Hand and Southern Cross Care SA. Contributing to the curriculum of Findon Technical College’s health and social support program, this initiative prepares students for in-demand careers in the healthcare sector through interactive, hands-on learning experiences.

While the remaining sessions currently scheduled for this year will be conducted by Southern Cross Care, the success and high engagement levels of the Helping Hand workshops have sparked exciting developments. Findon Technical College is now actively planning additional opportunities with Helping Hand throughout the year.

Interested in a Career in Aged Care?
If you’re a student interested in exploring career opportunities in aged care after graduation, click here to learn about Helping Hand’s student placement programs.