Louise's Log

Diary of a Trainee - Episode 1

Hi everyone...

My name is Louise and I am one of the trainees that Mandurah Community Care (Inc) has taken on. I am going to tell you about how I became a trainee and what I have been doing.

In July 2005, I started Work for the Dole at MCC in the front reception, which I had to do 310 hours within six months. I went two days a week to start with and then three to four days a week. I completed the 310 hours in four months and enjoyed it so much that I decided to stay on and became a volunteer.

My duties as the front receptionist included; answering the phone, filing, sending faxes, photocopying, customer service, invoices and using the computer to type documents. I really enjoyed volunteering in the front reception. All the staff are wonderful and a pleasure to work with.

I have one very funny story that happened one day when I was working at the reception in the morning. I was cutting some business cards and then a staff member threw some material bags at me from behind. It was so funny, cause I was just sitting there cutting business cards and then that happens.

In February to August 2006, I did six months traineeship called Green Corps. In that we did work out in the environment, which included things like; building a 2km fence, seed collection, erosion control and planting. I enjoyed this, as we got out in the bush and learned new things about the environment and the wildlife. While doing Green Corps, I still volunteered in the office when I wasn't working.

In February 2007, I saw an ad in the local paper about certificate 3 in Aged and Home Care course. MCC then decided to take me on as a trainee respite worker as they can't get rid of me, as I just love it there. I never thought that I would be doing anything like this for a job. As a Respite Worker, my duties include; House cleaning, showering, and shopping for /with clients, Respite Care and helping out at Life Club and Men's Club. I started off being buddied up for my traineeship.

I have now being going out on my own and I have mostly been doing Showering and Respite Care. I am really enjoying it as I have met some nice and wonderful people. A funny story for when I was out on my own is; when I was showering a client, I had a shower as well, as I got sprayed by the shower. As I love working for MCC, when I am not working, I still go in the office and help out in what ever I can.

Starting on 1st August, I will be starting the in class training to get the Certificate. I will be doing that one day a week and working out in the field the rest of the week. I look forward to meeting more of you as I progress through my Traineeship.