With Australia’s aging population booming, the demand for nurses has opened up doors for men like Ben Jones to make their move into the industry.

This boom is set to see more than 147,000 new nursing jobs open across the country[1], a welcome fact for TAFE NSW Ultimo nursing student, Ben Jones, who at the age of 36 decided to head back to training for a much needed career change.

“When my daughter was born I became her primary carer, resigning from my job. During this time I decided I wanted to change careers and become a nurse, something I had been considering for a while.

“I enrolled in the Diploma of Nursing at TAFE NSW Ultimo, as it would allow me to work as an enrolled nurse, earning an income to support my family needs, whilst continuing to further my studies and become a registered nurse.”

Being the primary carer for his two year old daughter, Mr Jones needed to find a course that would work around his family commitments.

“The Diploma of Nursing offered the flexibility I needed to work a casual job, care for my daughter and study fulltime to become a enrolled nurse. The TAFE NSW nursing teachers were also very accommodating and understanding, which helped students like myself fit fulltime study around a busy schedule.”

With connections to multiple employers across Sydney, TAFE NSW nursing teachers were able to help Mr Jones get his foot in the door and secure employment.

“My TAFE NSW teachers provided me with industry contacts and access to excellent hospitals and facilities for the clinical placement required as part of the Diploma of Nursing.”

As a result of these connections, Mr Jones will start a full time job with Sydney Local Health District.

“I’ve been accepted into a transition program for enrolled nurses, which I will start in August.”

Looking forward to completing his course next month, Mr Jones can’t wait to start working as a nurse and providing help to those who need it most.

TAFE NSW offers more than 1,200 courses, from certificates to degrees. Many can be studied online, when and where it suits students, via TAFE Digital. Visit www.tafensw.com.au or call 131 601.

Media contact: Emma Cawley, TAFE NSW Media Officer, emma.cawley1@tafensw.edu.au, mobile 0412 478 415.