Two men, Sanjay Narain Sharma, 47, and Alivereti Tagivetaua, 33, recently completed a caregiving training program, challenging the stereotype that caregiving is predominantly a female role. They were part of a cohort of 41 graduates who received their Certificate III in Individual Support (Aging) at Calvary Temple on Friday.
The initiative is supported by the Australian Aged Care Expansion (ACE) program, which is part of the Pacific Australia Labour and Mobility (PALM) scheme. The theoretical aspect of the training was provided by Alphacrucis University College, an educational institution recognized by the Fijian Higher Education Commission.
Mr. Sharma discovered his passion for caregiving while caring for his mother, who passed away in 2022. He expressed the fulfillment he felt in caring for others, stating, “I gained experience from taking care of my other family members who are old, and I found passion when I took care of my own mother before she passed away.”
Mr. Tagivetaua pointed out that passing the practical training, which was the final requirement to graduate, was his biggest challenge. He reflected on missing the opportunity to care for his grandparents, who passed away when he was still young, saying, “This will be a good chance for me to show people the love I couldn’t give my grandparents.”
Gaayetri Prasad, manager of Foreign Employment Services at the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, reminded the graduates of their role as representatives of Fiji in Australia. She encouraged them to present themselves well, noting that they would serve as gateways for others pursuing similar opportunities. The graduates are expected to officially graduate next June.
Leave a comment