Two men recently completed a caregiving training program alongside 39 other participants, demonstrating that caregiving is not solely a female role. Sanjay Narain Sharma, 47, and Alivereti Tagivetaua, 33, were part of the third cohort to graduate with a Certificate III in Individual Support (Aging) at a ceremony held at Calvary Temple last Friday.
This initiative is funded by the Australian Aged Care Expansion (ACE) program under the Pacific Australia Labour and Mobility (PALM) scheme. The theoretical portion of the training was conducted by Alphacrucis University College, an Australian institution registered with the Fijian Higher Education Commission.
Mr. Sharma discovered his passion for caregiving while caring for his mother until her passing in 2022. He expressed that there is no greater feeling than looking after others, drawing from his experiences with elderly family members.
“I gained the experience from taking care of my other family members who are old; I found passion when I took care of my own mother before she passed away two years ago,” Mr. Sharma stated.
Mr. Tagivetaua noted that his most significant challenge was passing the practical training, the final component of the program before graduation. He expressed a desire to honor his grandparents, whom he could not care for due to their passing when he was young.
“This opportunity will allow me to show the love I couldn’t give my grandparents,” he remarked.
Gaayetri Prasad, the manager of Foreign Employment Services at the Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Workplace Relations, emphasized the importance of the trainees representing Fiji during their time in Australia. “As you go there, know that you are representing Fiji, and make sure to carry yourselves well, as you will be gateways for others who also want to pursue this program,” she stated.
The graduates are set to complete their program by next June.
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