Blue Haven Training Partnerships

Blue Haven Illawarra has joined Kiama Community College and Kiama High School to offer two new local opportunities for ground-breaking aged-care training.

Kiama Community College is providing a Certificate III in Individual Support and Kiama High School a two-year school-based traineeship for senior students, with Blue Haven providing work placement for both courses at its aged care home.

Blue Haven CEO Jane Stroud said the new training was a response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care.

“The Royal Commission recommended more government funding to train our aged care workers. Rather than wait for this to happen, we’ve created a local partnership to achieve it right now,” Ms Stroud said.

“This partnership will benefit our Blue Haven residents, Kiama Community College, Kiama High, and our wider community through quality care and skilled local employment.”

Kiama Community College executive officer Helen Zwicker said the college would be providing staff training to the specific requirements of Blue Haven Illawarra.

“Blue Haven has direct input into the unit selection and content of the Certificate III in Individual Support qualification,” Ms. Zwicker said.

“The course also involves work placement at Blue Haven, providing industry specific training in a real workplace for the practical side of their studies.”

The Kiama High School traineeships involve students studying at school and TAFE as well as completing 800 hours of work at Blue Haven in their senior years.

When the students graduate high school, they will have a Certificate III in Individual Support to go with their HSC.

Blue Haven Chair Mark Honey said the new partnership was an exciting new chapter in the longstanding collaboration between Kiama Council (owner of Blue Haven), Kiama Community College and Kiama High School.

“Bringing our largest local employer in Blue Haven Illawarra into this mix has huge potential, most importantly for our Blue Haven residents and clients,” Clr Honey said.

“However, the benefits of this partnership extend beyond Blue Haven to our wider community.”

“Having a local training network provide high-demand job skills for industries such as aged care is a massive benefit for our local economy.”

“It’s especially exciting for our young people looking for local work in areas beyond hospitality and tourism.”

Further information is available from Kiama Community College by phoning  (02)4232 1050 or online at kcc.nsw.edu.au.

Photo: Helen Zwicker (Kiama Community College) and Dale Wakefield (Blue Haven Illawarra) signing the partnership agreement