Two men, Sanjay Narain Sharma, 47, and Alivereti Tagivetaua, 33, recently graduated as part of the third cohort of the National Employment Centre’s program, earning their Certificate III in Individual Support (Aging) at Calvary Temple. This program is funded by the Australian Aged Care Expansion initiative, which is part of the Pacific Australia Labour and Mobility scheme.
The theoretical portion of the training was provided by Alphacrucis University College, an Australian educational institution recognized by the Fijian Higher Education Commission. Mr. Sharma discovered his passion for caregiving while caring for his mother prior to her passing in 2022. He expressed that there’s no greater feeling than taking care of others and shared his motivation from helping elderly family members.
Mr. Tagivetaua faced challenges during the practical training, which was the final segment of the program. He regretted not being able to care for his grandparents when they were alive, but sees this opportunity as a way to offer the love he wished to give them.
Gaayetri Prasad, manager of Foreign Employment Services at the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, commended the trainees, highlighting their role as representatives of Fiji in Australia. She encouraged them to uphold a positive image, noting that they would pave the way for others wishing to join the program. The graduates are set to complete their formal training in June.