James steps up to care for others

"I studied the Certificate III in Individual Support Ageing (CHC33021) with TAFE Queensland straight after school to get my foot in the door to nursing," explained James.

"For the next eight and a half years, I worked and studied my way into aged care management, which was great.”

James' studies included a Diploma of Counselling (CHC51015) in 2016 and a Diploma of Child, Youth and Family Intervention (CHC50321) in 2017.

Complimenting his studies was his inspirational teacher, who helped put him on the path to becoming a case manager and setting him up to change careers into mental health.

"My amazing teacher, Christine Parker, was passionate and knowledgeable about working in youth mental health. She was also amazing at helping students discover their strengths, and I learnt how to apply my experiences and knowledge in the workplace - which was amazing," said James.

As part of his course, James was connected to local counselling services to complete job placements, giving him insights into the realities of the industry and helping him start his new career.

"Christine helped me build on my innate strengths through coursework, assessments, and role plays. Then she connected me with an appropriate work experience placement, helping to prepare me for the real world."

James had placements with the Salvation Army's youth outreach service and Intercept Youth Services in Caboolture, where he worked full-time for over a year after graduating.

"During that placement, I found my feet while experiencing the industry, which was great for my learning and development. Then seamlessly transitioning into paid work after finishing the course was great."

With several years of work experience, the time came for his next challenge. It saw him explore changing careers into community services and find an opportunity to work with LGBTIQAP+ youth and their families.

"When COVID happened, the aged care industry changed, and I saw a job opening at Open Doors Youth Service. So I applied, and they then offered me a drug and alcohol case manager role, and I jumped at it."

Open Doors Youth Service is Queensland's leading LGBTQIAP+ SB youth homelessness and support service, enriching the lives of young people with diverse genders, sex, sexualities, and bodies.

Each day, James supports 12-24-year-olds who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Asexual, Pansexual, Sistergirl or Brotherboy across South East Queensland.

He's using his skills to help high-risk and at-risk young people in developmentally and culturally appropriate ways to provide individual, group-based, and family support to enhance connections to family, culture, and community.

"I've never thought about working in drug and alcohol counselling before, so when I got the opportunity, I leapt at it. It’s an amazing job, and using my personal lived experience to connect really helps clients - and I love it."

James credits his TAFE Queensland training for giving him the skills to put his personal and professional knowledge into a framework that enables him to deliver safe therapeutic and professional solutions for his clients ethically.

"I specifically work with the queer community, and each day I'm countering a lot of the misinformation and discrimination against the trans and gender diverse young people we support."

"Young people face so many challenges today, and my role is helping them navigate the difficult time they're going through while reducing the harm of substance abuse."

"There are some intersections between the queer community and the substance abuse community, and managing those intersections and dealing with stigma and discrimination against people that use substances is big for them."

Keeping in touch with his former teacher recently saw James return to the TAFE Queensland classroom as a guest speaker, giving current students insights from the industry.

"Christine asked me to deliver a working with diversity workshop to her class where I could bring insights from the industry to her students. It was a fun experience and opened my eyes to my next potential career move."

Now, working in a job he loves, helping a community he's proud of in an industry he's passionate about, James' career is right where he wants it to be, with an eye on the future.

"TAFE Queensland is the way to go. I'm working alongside university graduates, and because my practical and hands-on training applies directly to my job."

"I can see myself someday pivoting my skills and experience to a training and educator role. Watch this space!" concluded James.