Hastings disability support worker Estella Carmichael has been chosen from the pool of 148,000 apprentices and industry trainees in New Zealand to be part of the annual Got a Trade? Got it Made Future Leaders Forum and Awards.
Ms Carmichael is a strong advocate for people with disabilities. As a disability support worker for Community Connections Supported Living Trust, she supports people to live a good and independent life within the community.
"I enjoy working alongside people to help them be independent. I am currently working as a support worker, but my organisation recognised my ability to support other people's learning and so I have been given a mentoring role."
After completing an on-the-job training programme through the Industry Training Organisation Careerforce, she gained her National Certificate in Health, Disability and Aged Care Level 3 and got involved in mentorship to support her colleagues through their own training journeys. She is now working through her National Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education.
"Studying literacy and numeracy to support adult learners has opened my eyes to the number of support staff with learning difficulties.