Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development
The Honourable Andrew Fraser

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Hervey Bay mine workers unearth new careers in aged care

Two Hervey Bay jobseekers have unearthed a surprising new career direction since the downturn in the mining industry.

Between them, Terry Capstick and Lyle Daymond have worked in the state’s mines for more than 25 years but now, thanks to a government-funded training and employment program, they have turned their attention to aged care.

Instead of working in rugged outpost mining areas amidst draglines, massive trucks, heavy machinery and rich mineral resources destined for all parts of the world, they are tending to the needs of elderly people in Hervey Bay, many of whom are fragile and have multiple health problems.

Terry, who is 61, worked in the mining industry for more than 20 years, mostly in warehousing taking care of the inventory.

“I was Senior Purchasing Officer at Gove in the Northern Territory and I was in charge of the warehouse and inventory management while employed at Curragh mine in Central Queensland,” Terry said.

“I left the mines for health reasons in 2003 but later returned and worked in the same industry on Groote Eylandt and at Weipa, finally calling it quits two years ago.

“I loved the work and it never occurred to me that I might change careers, but then I started doing some volunteer work in aged care and found that I enjoyed it immensely.

“I enrolled in a Productivity Places Program project with Community Solutions in Hervey Bay and completed qualifications in aged care.

“I’m still doing volunteer work at the RSL’s Baycrest Retirement Community in Pialba but I’m now also employed there thanks to my new qualifications.

“I have a tremendous amount of job satisfaction. I work with residents in both the high and low care sections and they show so much appreciation for anything we do, even for a simple thing like talking to them.

“It’s also quite amusing when they refer to me as a ‘young’ bloke!”

Lyle Daymond, 37, of Urangan was one of about 150 workers who lost their jobs at the Eloise copper mine near Cloncurry in December last year. His wife and two sons had settled in Hervey Bay but Lyle was unable to find another job.

“I’d been in the mines for a few years doing a range of jobs including truck driving so I couldn’t believe it when my mother-in-law suggested I look into a career in aged care,” Lyle said.

“I checked it out and, after contacting a few places, decided to apply for the Community Solutions project to gain qualifications and get some work experience in the industry.

“This field of work is a complete turnaround for me but I’m really enjoying it.

“I did my work experience at Spiritus Kirami in Hervey Bay, working with both high care and dementia residents and now I’m employed at Fair Haven.

“I think it’s harder work in aged care than it was in mining but I’m enjoying it just as much as the mining industry.”

The Productivity Places Program is a joint initiative between the Australian and State and Territory Governments to help participants complete a full qualification in areas identified as priorities by state industry bodies.

Parliamentary Secretary for Employment and Economic Development, Jan Jarratt, said Community Solutions received a $165,000 grant from the program earlier this year to help 60 Maryborough and Hervey Bay jobseekers be better prepared for the workforce.

“Under the Productivity Places Program more than 700,000 training places will be provided for jobseekers and existing workers across Australia over five years,” Ms Jarratt said.

For more information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 925.

Media contacts:   Treasurer’s office — (07) 3224 6361 or 3224 5982
                               Community Solutions Inc – (07) 4128 3933

---