Media Release

In rural and regional NSW, only 22% of people say they can easily access mental health services. In major cities, that figure is 34%. In the Hilltops region, the number of people living with mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression is higher than the NSW average.

Taylors Flat resident Rachelle Tiller, 39, recently completed a Certificate IV in Mental Health and is continuing her studies with a Diploma of Counselling. After many years working in disability support and caring for her two children with disabilities, Rachelle decided to study mental health and build new skills. Her experience with mental health challenges inspired her to help others.

“Living with my own mental health challenges has taught me so much. I can use this knowledge to benefit others in need. I’m already using the skills I’ve learned every single time I work with a client, and it makes me a better support for them.”

Rachelle said studying mental health gave her a greater understanding of the challenges faced by people in rural communities, where access to services can be limited. “Living rurally, you see how easy it can be for people to suffer in silence. There aren’t always as many services available, and mental health can still be difficult to talk about. I think having people in rural communities who understand mental health and have the skills to support others can make a big difference.”

Rachelle said the support she received from TAFE NSW gave her confidence to follow her career goals. It helped her take the next step towards a career in crisis intervention. She hopes to specialise in childhood trauma in the future. “I absolutely loved studying at TAFE NSW. The whole team was amazing. They not only helped build my confidence, but they helped me work out what I wanted to do next. Now I’m studying counselling and working towards a career helping people through crisis. I also hope to help adults recovering from childhood trauma.”

Young resident Sarah Mraz, 41, is close to completing a Certificate IV in Community Services at TAFE NSW’s Young campus. She has already started working as a support worker with Wellways and plans to study a Certificate IV in Mental Health next year.

After 14 years in the same job, Sarah wanted a career where she could help others and make a difference. At first, she planned to work in disability support, but after studying a mental health unit as part of her course, she discovered a new interest in mental health. “I’d wanted to do something like this for a really long time, and eventually my friends and partner encouraged me to take the leap. I was looking for something where I could help people. Studying community services opened my eyes to how many different pathways there are. The mental health unit really sparked something in me, and now I’m planning to specialise in mental health next year.”

Sarah said she would encourage anyone considering a career in community or mental health services to talk to TAFE NSW about the pathways available.
“There are so many possibilities in this field. I walked into the TAFE NSW campus and spoke to the staff about where to start, and they pointed me in the right direction. The course has given me extra skills and knowledge that I can carry with me into a career helping people, and I think more people should consider giving it a go.”

TAFE NSW Young Community Services teacher, Andrew Bailey, said community services gives students many career options where they can help and support people in need. “Community services offers many career paths, giving students lots of options to explore. The practical skills they develop can lead into roles in areas such as case management, housing support, mental health, disability, youth or family services, as well as further study. In a regional town like Young, there is a need for skilled workers who understand the local community and can provide the right support. Studying locally helps students build skills needed in the community across the region.”

Media enquiries only: Rachel Ecclestone, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, 02 7920 5000.

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