Working in the disabled sector provides a career of opportunity. And you do not need experience in the field to start.
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That’s the message from Archer Moyo and James Duley who have been promoted to team leaders at Cram Foundation after completing a Certificate III at TAFE.
Both men have recently formed leadership team at Cram.
Chief executive Karen Burdett described them as part of a wonderful group of team-leaders doing an exceptional job after making the transition from non care related industries.
Mr Moyo comes from a finance and town planning background. And Mr Duley initially worked in retail.
Ms Burdett said there were opportunities for many different people in the disability sector including a growing number of men.
Mr Moyo was born in southern Africa and said he “always wanted to be an accountant. But fate didn’t take me down the route so I went to college and did town and country planning. I worked for the central government for around seven years doing urban planning”.
His wife Nyasha then wanted to move to the United Kingdom where he was able to study and then work as an accountant in the manufacturing industry until 2014 when they migrated to Australia for a warmer climate.
Mrs Moyo secured a job as a registered nurse at Bulli Hospital while her husband saw a newspaper advertisement for a Certificate III in Aged Care and Disability. It was a four week course followed by a 120 hour work placement. At the end of the course he secured a four placement at a Cram group home and was asked if he wanted a job.
“I hadn’t done anything like it before but I fell in love with the whole job. Everyone was so nice to me. I have never looked back,” he said.
“I started on the floor. Now I am privileged to be a team leader on the operational side at two group homes. I am the supervisor. There is so much opportunity in this sector. And I love the interaction with people.”
Mr Moyo said the disability care sector is expanding rapidly and that is creating opportunities in a range of areas suitable for men and women of different ages and with different backgrounds, He works with men and women from their teens to their mid 60’s.
Mr Duley grew up in Shellharbour. In Year 7 he started working as a casual at Sams Warehouse. At the end of Year 10 he began working full time and notched up eight years before the business closed in 2013. He picked up two temp jobs and at 21 decided he wanted to find a career. He heard about a fast track course in aged care and disability and secured a job with Cram after doing his work placement.
“I was going more down the aged care track but this opportunity came up in Albion Park where I grew up. I did the placement at three group homes and I was welcomed so much. It was such a great feeling when I was doing my placement I knew I wanted to work there,” he said.
“I loved working in this industry where I have the chance to actually help people. And that makes me feel good. I have been working for Cram four years now. It is just amazing. I could not think of a better job than working in disability care. And I love working for a company that is not seeking profits It is a company that is about making people’s lives better.”
Mr Duley said has enjoyed career progression with Cram and is now a team leaders who is working with other newcomers to the industry who love just as much as him. They include a West Australian coal miner who has made the transition from a traditional industry to disability care.
Ms Burdett said as the sector and Cram grow there will be plenty more opportunities.
“Strategically there is plans for growth in more accommodation moving forward because there is so much demand. And it will be good to give an opportunity for more people in the region to be able to have supported independent living in the way that we provide,” she said.
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