Theresa has found a rewarding career supporting older residents.

Foster carer Theresa had the privilege of keeping her mother and uncle comfortable at the end of their lives, and now, after completing a diploma in community services, she’s extending her help to many other families.

Theresa is among more than 150 foster and kinship carers to complete a subsidised qualification through a partnership with The Bradford Institute of Advanced Education and peak carers’ body, Connecting Foster and Kinship Carers SA.

“It was a real honour and I was lucky to be there, not only for myself but for them not to feel alone,” she says, of first caring for her mother Vivian, and later, her uncle Dennis, in their own homes.

“My brother and I provided around-the-clock care for (my mother) and it was a privilege to do that for her so her life could end as peacefully as it could.

“Every time I walked in the room, though (my uncle) wouldn’t acknowledge anybody else, I’d get this massive smile.”

Theresa, who cares for a 10-year-old boy and also still supports a 25-year-old man who came to live with her as a youngster, completed the diploma in 2020.

Those learnings supported her to care for her mother, who passed away in 2023 and uncle, who died last year.

The qualification led her to start her own home care business for older residents. Her support is particularly in demand among families looking for Greek-speaking carers.

Caring for others is second nature for Theresa Theresa encourages other foster or kinship carers to consider studying the diploma.

“If your heart is in caring, there’s plenty of work out there for carers, whether it’s in the disability space, or in aged care, there’s more than enough work to go around for all of us.”

The course features twice fortnightly daytime or evening sessions, covering a range of topics such as domestic and family violence, health and safety, promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural safety, advocacy and working with diverse people.

Coursework takes into consideration the direct experience of family-based carers.

The partnership project was piloted in 2019, and its tenth cohort is underway this year, supported through subsidies from Skills SA.

More subsidised places are available again next year with additional opportunities available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Details: visit CFKCSA’s website (external site), email admin@cfc-sa.org.au or phone 1800 732 272.

This article is part of our latest edition of carers' newsletter, Caring Together. You can flip through the whole edition, here.