A TAFE Gippsland student turned employee is testament to the fact that it’s never too late to pursue your passion.
On the evening of 7 May 2024, Kylie Imlach walked the stage at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre (GPAC) to receive her second TAFE Gippsland qualification in four years. The Diploma of Community Services graduate, who also holds a Certificate IV in Community Services, gratefully accepted her official credential from TAFE Gippsland CEO Laura Macpherson, watched on by her proud husband Jamie.
The mum of three, who bottled her career aspirations to work in the family business and start a family, couldn’t be happier about her achievements.
“I have learned so much about myself in studying with TAFE Gippsland – that I am capable of anything I put my mind to,” Kylie said.
“I am being a positive role model for my children; they can see the positive changes I have made. By me studying and now working in the industry, my children can now see that they too can do anything they put their minds to.”
A Latrobe Valley local, Kylie’s high school experience was less than enjoyable. Bullied as a teen, Kylie found it difficult to be at school despite having an innate love of learning. But her thirst for knowledge and will to achieve her high education objectives won out in the end.
“I began my higher education by completing a Certificate IV in Youth, Child, and Family and I had planned to go on to complete a double degree in social welfare and psychology, however my family owned a business and needed someone to manage the office,” Kylie recalled.
“This was going to be a short-term arrangement, however 12 years later I was still there. In this time, I met my now husband Jamie and had two of my three children and decided to be a stay-at-home parent. Jamie had lost his job at the Hazelwood Power station, but I encouraged him to go back to complete his own studies and venture into what would be a long career in community services. He eventually took up his TAE and became an educator at TAFE Gippsland, teaching Certificate IV in Community Services.”
Four years ago, with her passion for helping people still bubbling away inside, Kylie decided it the time was right to get back to the books and make it official. Kylie enrolled in a Certificate IV in Community Services and embarked on her study journey at TAFE Gippsland’s Traralgon campus, where she would nurture a network of fellow students to make life-long connections.
“During my course I really enjoyed connecting with like-minded people and furthering the learning I had already completed, Kylie said.
“I had been a stay-at-home parent for so long, there were many times I let my own self-doubt creep in, but a pep talk from Jamie would bring me back out of that. It was a change for me to go back out into the world of studying and completing work placements. My teachers were supportive and made it easy for me to come to class each week. I really enjoyed completing my work placement as this is when I really began to learn a lot, not only about the industry I was studying, but also myself.”
Left: Kylie and her daughter Phoebe on graduation night. Right: Kylie's graduation portrait photograph for Graduation 2024.
What the 700-strong crowd at GPAC didn’t know when Kylie took to the stage on Tuesday, is that she is already gainfully employed in her preferred profession as a Reconnect case worker in TAFE Gippsland’s student support team.
Kylie said she feels like she’s in her element as a Reconnect case worker – putting her TAFE Gippsland qualifications to good use, learning new skills, collaborating with participants and helping those in the community who need it the most.
“I feel like I have come full circle, from being a student with TAFE Gippsland to now working here,” Kylie said.
“In the short amount of time I have been in the role, I have been made to feel welcome and I am excited to take on this new challenge – working with a variety of participants, allow them to build resilience and transition into some form of formal learning or employment and providing ongoing support as they move through the program.”
Finaly, a word of advice from Kylie to anyone considering undertaking study for the first time, no matter their age or circumstance…
“I would say to anyone who may be thinking about studying at TAFE Gippsland, you may think you can’t do it, but here, you will be supported in your study journey from start to finish,” Kylie said.
“Just look at me! Completing the course helped me to work on my confidence and on my skills and knowledge. The course also allowed me to gain employment, where I was able to continue to work on my skills and gain knowledge from work colleagues around me. I had always had a passion for community services and wanting to have influence in a person’s life and now I get to do that every day.”