News

Plan ahead and keep up with the latest industry events for July and August.

The name doesn’t give anything away – but the message is loud and clear.

This month we review the French film 'The Intouchables'.

Plastic drinking straws have recently been banned in the city of Seattle – causing serious inconvenience to those who need them to drink!

Margaret Marshall has been working as a Trainer with Field for 18 months. 

We asked her a few questions about her experience with Field, and lots of other stuff to get to know her better.

Acknowledging an individual or an organisation’s efforts has traditionally involved the presentation of an award. But what happens when the Federal Government decides they don’t want to support the awards ceremony anymore?

Get to know one of the hardest working people in the biz, Felicity Gaylard.

Felicity is Field's Operations Manager, and we asked her some questions to get to know her better.

Catch up on the latest developments in Maree Ireland's NDIS journey...

Do you have a friend or family member who would enjoy working in the Disability or Aged Care sector? Why not tell them about us?

Here is a list of our next qualification courses due to start in Camberwell, Footscray, and Geelong.

Stay up to date with the happenings in the industry – it's another busy month with plenty of activities to get involved with. 

Here is a collection of short and sometimes funny videos to get you thinking about disability and ageing support.

Learning continues all the way through life, and sometimes, finishing your studies is only the beginning…

Meet Vy, Field's data powerhouse.

We asked her some questions to get to know her better.

Get to know your trainer, Mandy Kennedy.

Mandy is not only an amazing trainer but she has also worked with clients in the disability field for over 25 years.

Read about Maree Ireland's initial contact about transferring to the NDIS at the time when the Federal Government has committed to fully funding it.

In each future issue Maree will be giving an update on her progress onto the NDIS and we will look at any issues and good stories occurring around the NDIS.

After hearing an interesting insight from Dick Weinman from Oregon, USA sharing his journey about moving into an assisted living facility (nursing home); Maree Ireland looks at the future options for people once they have turned 65, and their transition to Aged Care Facilities in Australia.

Maree also examines how Australia is slowly moving towards enabling people to be able to stay in their own home for as long as they can.

Here is a collection of short and sometimes funny videos to make you think.

... so kick back while you learn something new!

Stay up to date with the happenings in the industry this month – there’s lots going on and plenty of activities to get involved with.

Lee Watkins has been a trainer with Field for over 9 years.

She has trained all over Victoria and has supported lots of students to reach their goals of working in the community services industry.

Changing careers or launching into a new job can be daunting.

We’ve put together a guide to help you find the role you’re looking for in no time.  

Anusuya started as Field's Compliance Manager in March 2018 and is the newest recruit to our talented team. 

We asked her a few questions so we could get to know her better.

Accessible housing is becoming a big issue throughout Australia for anyone needing support to live in their own home. The lack of available options is something that will affect all of us, and this needs to be urgently addressed!

There are a large number of events happening in the community sector this month - check out what's in the calendar for April.

Wendy Mackay is Field's Finance and Business Administrator. She has an important role at Field ensuring finances are in check, as well as maintaining Field’s student database. 

We asked Wendy a few questions to find out more about her.

Darren Pearce is an avid traveller, 'zumba' instructor and one of Field's passionate and dedicated trainers.

We asked Darren some questions to learn a little more about him.

Maree Ireland recently attended a Question & Answer Forum on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) - also attended by the opposition leader Bill Shorten - at the Pascoe Vale Neighbourhood Facility in the electorate of Wills; where participants raised a number of issues.

Are you, or is someone you know interested in working in residential support?

Check out these direct links to job ads for casual employment with the Department of Health and Human Services.

When you are thinking of studying a course, it helps if you have some clear ideas of why you want to do the course you have chosen. These ideas will motivate you to get started, continue to study, complete your course and then take the steps to finding employment.

In this month's edition of Field Revealed, Maree Ireland shares her hints and study advice.

Join our team and work for Field!
Field are recruiting for a Program Coordinator; a strong communicator with great relationship skills, a background or experience in project/program coordination and strong documentation management. Any RTO or further administration skills you bring will be a bonus! 

Have a look at what's happening in the community sector for the month!

In 2018, the online community of Facebook is stronger than ever.

If you would like to stay up to date with our latest news as it happens,  like our page here:

https://www.facebook.com/fieldau/

Do you work for Independence Australia?
Independence Australia is offering 12 scholarships to eligible Support Workers in Field’s Certificate IV in Leisure and Health. 

The organisation will sponsor tuition and material fees for eligible applicants, qualifying them in recreation and leisure-based activity programs to support, challenge and enhance the wellbeing of others.

Congratulations Class of 2017 
Completing a qualification is a milestone that deserves to be celebrated! 

For the first time in Field’s history, we did just that – over two fabulous graduation events in Footscray and Dandenong North last week.

Another month of public holidays...
March is almost upon us and with it comes some more public holidays (I’m still getting over December/January) to enjoy and do things you want to do.  

The next spate of public holidays is:

• Labour Day/Moomba – Monday 12th March
• Good Friday – Friday 30th March

Emma Benitez is Field's amazing 'Student Experience Manager'...

Are you a student who completed qualification studies in 2017?

Field are conducting 2 graduation events in February - in Footscray for our West/North students and in Dandenong North for our East/South students.

Have you RSVP'd Phoebe yet?

Field's semester 1 qualification course schedule is now available.

We also now have Facebook events set up for all information sessions and Field events.

Field are excited to announce the addition of a brand new qualification to the suite of Field programs:

Certificate IV in Leisure and Health (CHC43415)

It's also the last week to enter our Facebook competition to go into the draw for a chance to win a Gold Class movie double.

Enter our Field Facebook competition for a chance to win GOLD CLASS movie tickets. Read the Terms and Conditions of entry here.

Have you ever wondered who designs your wonderful training resource materials? Wonder no longer...

Sue Stapleton is Field’s creative and talented Graphic Designer. We asked her a few questions to get to know her better.

WA Senator, Jordon Steele-John made history when he was sworn in to Federal Parliament.

Not only is Jordon the youngest person to ever serve in the Senate, but he is also the first person with disability to sit in the upper house.

The Human Rights Awards is the pinnacle of human rights recognition in Australia.

Each year we are proud to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of individuals and organisations in promoting and protecting human rights and freedoms.

We’re at the last month of 2017 already. Whether you commenced or completed your qualification this year, congratulations!

For many people, returning to study can be a daunting experience. Simply enrolling and participating in your first day of study is an achievement. Attending training, staying on top of and progressing through assessments and completing your course is absolutely worthy of celebrating. We hope Field and your trainer has made your study experience in 2017 a worthwhile and enjoyable one.

There are plenty of ways to stay current with industry news and goings on.

Check out the links for industry events occurring in December.

Employment opportunities for disability support workers exist at:

• Aurora Support Services
• Oriel Services

both located in Melbourne's northern suburbs.

There are plenty of ways to stay current with industry news and goings on. Check out these links for industry events occurring in November.

...and don’t forget the Spring Racing Carnival which is a great opportunity to encourage your residents/clients to get involved in sweeps, dressing up, making their own hats/fascinators and decorating rooms/facilities. 

We interviewed Megan who completed her Certificate III in Individual Support with Field earlier this year and is now a Disability Support Worker.

We asked her some questions about her life, study and work experiences.

Living with disability and working with people with disabilities needs to have a certain element of seriousness to it.  Both people with disabilities and disability support workers need to be focussed on what they are doing and to be aware that their environment is safe.

However there are times when people with disabilities and workers need to be able to share a joke and to have a laugh freely.

Only 2 months left of 2017! Where did the year go?
This issue includes employment opportunities from a few of our sector partners, a Student profile, as well as our monthly updates of industry events, Maree’s blog and relevant sector information.

Know someone who is interested in enrolling into the same course as you?  Maybe you started your Qualification and didn’t continue at that time?

We only have a few more programs starting this year, and the sooner training starts, hopefully and ideally the sooner work does too!

Lola Nicolouleas is one of Field's talented trainers, she's also a bit of a character as you'd guess from this photo! 

We thought it was time we found out more about her, so we asked her a few questions...

New location, New training facilities, New opportunities
Our new location is easy to access via public transport, with Tram 72 (Stop 65) along the same road and Camberwell Railway Station is just a short (350 m) walk away.

Students can now enjoy large, modern facilities with three purpose set training rooms and a computer lab.

There are plenty of ways to stay current with industry news and goings on. For example, there are groups who hold face to face meetings, facebook pages, newsletter distributions, LinkedIn networks, and professional development training opportunities.

There are many professional networks within both the Ageing Support and Disability industries. We’d like to share a few that provide email updates on current topics, information and are FREE to subscribe to!

While we, in Melbourne, are just starting to see some glimmer of Spring breaking through, our editor - Maree Ireland - is off sunning herself in Hawaii! 

We still have an October newsletter issue for you and still invite to you contact Maree, ask questions, offer suggestions etc and she will follow up with you on her return!

We are excited to announce our head office has moved from Collingwood to Camberwell.
You can now find us at Level 1, 969 Burke Road, Camberwell.

Phoebe Neilson started at Field in March this year as Student and Trainer Support Officer. We all know what a great job she is doing, but we thought it was time we found out more about her. So we asked her a few questions...

• Check out our interesting YouTube videos on the latest interactive 'tool' for people living with dementia, along with Ben's story about how his workers support his living with uncontrolled epilepsy.
• Field socials - After laying dormant for a while, our Social Media has had a refresh and we are waiting for your love!
• Wear for success - Field are very pleased to advise that they have partnered with a fantastic organisation called ‘Wear for Success’, which provides a range of free programs and services for people facing barriers to employment.
• Course compliments - read about how our students have enjoyed their course and experience with Field.
  

Field are commencing qualification programs throughout the year. If you have a family member or friend who might be interested in studying with Field, please feel free to share this newsletter and schedule with them!

If you would like further information about these qualifications and key dates, call us on 1300 360 185.

Take the time to read up on sector awareness and/or events that are occurring this month. There might be an opportunity for you to take this information to your workplaces and implement an awareness activity as part of your program, schedule or lifestyle calendar.

In June Field opened a new training facility on Pakington St, Geelong.

Shared with Independence Australia, from this facility Field deliver short courses and qualifications to individuals living in the Western Suburbs and down to the Bellarine Peninsula.

Hello, my name is Maree Ireland.

I live with my partner and two cats. I love travelling and I have been working at Field for nine years as the Community Engagement Officer.

This newsletter is for Field students who are studying or have studied to be able to work with people with disabilities and the ageing community and my aim is to issue a publication monthly.

The Continence Foundation of Australia, the peak body for continence promotion, management and advocacy is coming to Melbourne in July 2016 to host a free education forum.

The forum is designed for health professionals working with people with disability and is presented by continence experts.

Even though today many individuals, families and services hold a vision for social inclusion, there are often many influences which stand in the way, continuing to push people to the margins and isolate them from community life.

Janet Klees, from Toronto, Canada, who has extensive knowledge and experience in building bridges to community will deliver this seminar, hosted by Belonging Matters Inc.

Are you an experienced direct support worker but don’t have a formal qualification in Disability?

The Accelerated CHC3315 Certificate III in Individual Support is a streamlined process for experienced DSWs to recognise current skills through a recognition of prior learning (RPL) process.

Field are pleased to inform you that applications for the Human services scholarship and Ethel Temby research grant program are now open.

VAC2016 will be focusing on the theme of inclusion, with speakers on the spectrum in every session, a dedicated quiet area, sensory maps, social scripts and much more.

Field is a team of individuals from a range of disciplines with a passion for capability development in the Aged Care and Disability sector. In each issue of The Field Guide we will introduce you to members of the Field team.

We have just released our Professional Training Calendar for 2016 and look forward to adding more courses throughout the second half of 2016.

Field is the learning and development arm of Independence Australia. We are a leading national provider of training in the Disability and Aged Care sector. Our focus is on equipping the industry to adapt and respond to the changing landscape of NDIS and CDC’s.

In the past month we have been in contact with over 32 providers in the Disability and Aged Care sectors. The most requested short courses were around CPR, First Aid, Manual Handling, Infection control and Spinal Cord Injury.

What a great year it has been! So many challenges in learning and development for the Disability and Aged Care sectors, so little time.

Take the first step towards a new career and apply for a scholarship to complete a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment today.