A big Congratulations to Patricia who graduated with a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care!
Patricia Cox is a Gooniyandi women from Bayulu Community near Fitzroy Crossing, and is a mother, grandmother sister, cousin, aunty, niece, and community leader. Patricia has worked at Marninwarntikura Women’s resource Centre for more than 10 years, in early childhood and family programs. The CEO of the women’s resource centre has long held the desire for all Aboriginal Staff to gain qualifications to transform their lives and enjoy the social goods many take for granted. The entire organisation is proud to see Patricia complete her qualification and support her determination to succeed and be a role model for community. As a new graduate, Patricia had this to say:
“I love being around kids because I grew up looking after my sibling’s and then my own children. Having that in me, I wanted to work with children and families, so I got a job with Marninwarntikura’s Mobile Playgroup and then signed up with TAFE and succeeded in getting a Certificate III in Children’s Services. Later I had to do the course again because it changed over the years, and I wanted to do my Diploma Qualification. Now I’ve graduated in the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) and looking forward to completing the Diploma in ECEC. I was passionate about finishing, even though I had a hard time; I lost my old man; my Elder, I had family to look after, and I worked full time.
I feel grateful to my workplace, which is Aboriginal led and they understand the issues and circumstances we face each day and help us get through with talking and debriefing.
Karen from TAFE was at our workplace every Tuesday to help me and other Educators to learn the words in the books and make sense of it in our own way. Nel visited us to assess us and was good at breaking things down so we could put learning into our workplace.
I want my community to know how doing training, getting a good job in a good workplace can change your life!”
We can wait to see what she accomplishes next!