Two healthcare student spotlights this National Skills Week

With more than 580,000 new jobs predicted by 2034 — according to Jobs and Skills Australia — nursing and other healthcare and social assistance roles are projected to be Australia’s fastest-growing industry.

Little wonder, therefore, that the care and support economy has been identified by the NSW Skills Plan: 2024–28 as one of six critical skills areas forecast to experience significant growth in coming years.

For National Skills Week 2025 (running 25–31 August), we spotlight two NSW TAFE students and graduates helping to meet the sector’s demand for skilled healthcare workers, like Ivee Allan and Angelica Rafty.

Ivee Allan

Having undertaken a School-Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship (SBAT) while completing Year 11 and 12, Ivee completed a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance as part of her HSC.

“The Certificate III in Healthcare Services Assistance gave me skills to document clinical notes, provide wound care, and perform manual handling,” Ivee said. “Working in a team setting has also helped me build new skills in communication and collaboration.” While regarding the SBAT program, Ivee said: “The hands-on learning helped me thrive and gave me real insight into the health system.”

As to what inspired Ivee to pursue health care, she points to an unexpected stay at John Hunter Hospital. “I was in hospital for over a week with severe concussion, and the nurses who cared for me really boosted my spirits,” Ivee said. “They inspired me to be someone who helps others feel better when they’re at their lowest.”

Ivee was a finalist for the NSW Training Awards in the Hunter and Central Coast Region for SBAT of the Year. Source: TAFE NSW

Angelica Rafty

As for Angelica’s healthcare career ambitions, these were shaped by her own family — her grandparents at home while she was growing up, and her mother caring for them. Having completed a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability), Angelica continues to build on her skills through a Diploma of Nursing at TAFE NSW Newcastle — and has completed placements at Lingard Hospital, where she now works.

“All of my placements have been at Lingard Hospital, and they’ve been amazing,” Angelica said. “I got to work in almost every area of the hospital, follow a patient through their journey from admission to theatre, watch surgery, see how airways are supported, and even follow day surgery patients through to discharge.”

A timely reminder

Steve Whan, Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, said National Skills Week is a timely reminder of the critical importance of vocational education and training, both to the state economy and local communities across NSW.

“A strong vocational education and training sector is critical to delivering the practical skills that people, communities and industries across NSW need, now and in the future,” Whan said.

“TAFE NSW trains around 400,000 people each year across more than 250 occupations in over 80 industry sectors, delivering the workforce needed to build housing and critical infrastructure, enable access to care and support services, support the growth of onshore advanced manufacturing, and power our transition to net zero,” Whan added.

Top image: Angelica Rafty. Source: TAFE NSW