Meet the Calvary class of 2024 – our first carer trainees in Tasmania

What do former beauty therapist Kim Pennington, motor mechanic and manager Matt Smylie, and cleaner Lenna Jarman have in common?

All have swapped their previous jobs to become part of Calvary Health Care’s first Tasmanian trainee program for care workers.

The Calvary class of 2024 is halfway through its Certificate III in Individual Care and the trainees are loving their new career paths. All consider it both a dream job and a privilege to be caring for local seniors living in residential aged care or receiving supported care at home.

Ms Pennington realised she wanted to work in a caring role when she took two years off to care for her father John as he battled prostate cancer.

“I had people coming in to help me shower and look after him and I thought that is something I would like to do,” said Ms Pennington. “Dad passed away last December, then I saw the traineeships advertised and applied.

“I’m loving it. I get in the car in the mornings now and I can’t believe that it’s my job to help keep people in their homes. My father was lucky, he had family. A lot of people don’t, and it’s nice to be able to give back.”

Employed with Calvary Home Care, Ms Pennington will soon complete supervised shifts at one of Calvary’s two Launceston aged care homes, Calvary Sandhill and Calvary Riverside Views, enabling her to add personal care to the domestic help she provides.

Father-of-two Matt Smylie works at Calvary Sandhill while completing his studies. Across town at Calvary Riverside Views, Ms Jarman, who worked as a cleaner at both Calvary homes for 16 years, is relishing the chance to become a carer and spend more one-on-one time with residents, especially those living with dementia.

All say they get as much back as they give.

Calvary’s Regional CEO for Tasmania, Melissa Evans, said the traineeship program was an opportunity for Calvary to grow its workforce in Launceston and the Tamar areas.

“We are keen to invest in providing rewarding, meaningful careers to local people looking for caring roles,” Ms Evans said. “Our inaugural trainees are bringing their passion and their life experience to their roles, which is great for our residents and clients.”

The joint home care-aged care training has been adapted from successful programs at mainland Calvary services developed through Calvary’s Learning Partnerships Team, with support from Ternary Consulting Group.

“It adds a different dimension. The trainees get to share knowledge and experience across settings, provide invaluable collegiate support, and it boosts connection between our services, which many older Tasmanians may need at some point in their lives,” Ms Evans said.

Being a carer is in Mr Smylie’s DNA. His father, two sisters, and his wife all worked at one time or another in carer roles in aged care or disability.

“It is something I’ve always been passionate about and wanted to do, but I’ve never found myself in a position to actually do it,” he said. “I saw the traineeship advertised and thought it would be a perfect opportunity to get in there and start that journey.

“Getting to know the residents is one of the lovely things. You come in for your shift and you see that spark in their eye and they are happy to see you, it’s really nice.”

Ms Jarman is the elder stateswoman of the group and was overjoyed when her home manager recognised her abilities and put her name forward.

“Calvary doesn’t discriminate on age or anything,” she said.

“I always had a passion for older people, and I used to help the carers out when they needed it, it’s just taken me this long to get there. I’m enjoying the one-on-one, practical side, and let’s say I’m getting my head around the school part. There’s a lot of homework!”

New traineeship opportunities will open early next year and be promoted on the Calvary Careers site.