Growing a career in care: Iolanda’s career development journey

For CBS support worker Iolanda, working in care has always been about helping people live with dignity, independence and confidence.

With her Certificate III in Individual Support now completed, she is building on her experience and continuing to grow her career while supporting clients in the community.

Before joining CBS, Iolanda had already spent time working as a support worker prior to qualifications becoming mandatory. That early experience confirmed that aged care was where she wanted to be. “I thoroughly enjoyed working with the elderly and saw this as a lifelong career,” she said.

She joined CBS as a Domestic Assistant, which gave her space to strengthen her skills. She always knew she wanted to continue learning at CBS. “During my interview at CBS I stated I wanted the opportunity to keep growing and learning and to not stay stagnant,” she said.

After settling into the role, Iolanda decided it was time to take the next step and approached CBS to begin her Certificate III in Individual Support. Balancing study with work allowed her to connect theory with real-world practice and develop a stronger understanding of the role.

One of the key learnings from her training was the importance of connection within the workplace. “Even though our job mainly consists of working independently, there is such a team environment amongst people who understand each other,” she said.

Support from colleagues and workplace buddies helped her stay confident while studying and working. She describes the experience as one that reinforced both her skills and her approach to care.

Now a qualified support worker, Iolanda is focused on spending more time directly supporting clients and helping them feel empowered in their daily lives. “I hope my new role will make people feel like they are being empowered in a caring and positive way,” she said.

She enjoys the ongoing learning that comes with the role and values the opportunity to continue developing her skills while making a practical difference for clients. “I learnt that I am much more capable then I sometimes give myself credit for” she adds.

Looking ahead, Iolanda is interested in further developing her career within CBS, including potential future pathways into care coordination. Her experience highlights the value of structured learning and professional growth in supporting both staff development and quality client care.