Helping Hand is partnering with the newly-established Port Augusta Technical College to help create a pipeline of skilled students ready to graduate and work in aged care, allied health and social support.
Due to open in 2025, the Port Augusta Technical College will support students in years 10 to 12 across the region to complete their SACE while undertaking vocational education and training (VET) in state-of-the-art specialist facilities.
As a key industry partner, Helping Hand will provide work experience for up to 20 students per term at its Port Pirie, Whyalla and Jamestown residential aged care homes, and work placements of up to 60 per year for year 11 students. Helping Hand will also support up to 20 school-based apprenticeships, with many of those students able to gain employment after completing their studies.
Helping Hand Chief Executive Chris Stewart said the partnership with the Port Augusta Technical College would be extremely positive for the Spencer Gulf cities, where there was a need for more staff in aged care.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for students to gain practical skills in an industry which is in-demand, particularly if they’ve grown up in the area and want to work locally,” Mr Stewart said.
“Many of these students will have close ties to our aged care homes in Port Pirie, Whyalla and Jamestown as well, and having that personal connection and understanding of ageing will make a significant difference to their training.”
The industry training programs will help students develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours they need to transition into apprenticeships, traineeships or entry-level employment, or progress to further or higher education. Mr Stewart said Helping Hand had this year partnered with Findon Technical College, which opened in January, to offer the first program of its kind, and students had significantly benefitted from the industry experience.
“Many young people are interested in caring roles including in allied health, aged care and social support roles, and they’re particularly interested in learning close to home,” he said.
“Working with Port Augusta Technical College allows us to create a pathway for students by encouraging them to consider a career with an aged care provider, which they can walk into immediately after completing their studies.”
“We’re thrilled to be involved in this new partnership after having seen how rewarding the Findon experience has been for the students, and we’re pleased it has been able to expand into a new area where these skills are highly valued and much needed.”
Mr Stewart said Helping Hand had a strong commitment to regional South Australia, having transitioned Yeltana and Copperhouse Court care homes in Whyalla to Helping Hand in 2022 and releasing plans for additional beds and significant upgrades earlier this year. With residential aged care homes in Port Pirie, Whyalla, Jamestown and Clare, Helping Hand is one of South Australia’s largest regional aged and home care service providers.
Minister for Education, Training and Skills Blair Boyer said the technical college would be co-located on the Port Augusta Secondary School site and was one of five technical colleges being built as part of a $208 million plan to equip students with the workplace skills needed in areas of high demand.
“Many regional students are interested in pursuing a vocational career while in school, yet the options for working directly with employers are limited,” Minister Boyer said.
“Students finishing Year 12 at the technical college will not only walk out with their SACE but, ideally, they will also walk straight into work.”
Helping Hand has been operating across metropolitan and regional South Australia for more than 70 years and supports more than 7,000 older people in more than 20 locations. With an ageing population there is a growing need to increase its workforce to ensure its community clients and care home residents, who it provides services for, are looked after with care and understanding.
