St Leonards local Mina Hasheminasab has switched careers, moving from a 15-year career in the hair and beauty industry to an in-demand job as an environmental lab technician with help from TAFE NSW.

Demand for lab technicians in all areas has continued to grow in Australia, and current Labour Market statistics indicate a 5-year growth of 10% in the laboratory technology industry. The global environmental testing market size is projected to reach USD 12.1 billion by 2025.1

Migrating to Australia in 2014, Mina started to become interested in working in laboratory testing to enter the in-demand sector and improve her job prospects. 

“I had been working in the hair and beauty industry for a long time and had many great experiences and achievements to my name,” Mina said.

“I first studied a Certificate III in Business Administration at TAFE NSW and was impressed by the range of career options on offer. I knew that laboratory technicians were in demand, so I enrolled in more courses to pursue my career goals.”

Mina completed the Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques in 2020 and is currently enrolled in the Diploma of Laboratory Technology (Food). When she was offered full time employment as a Sample Receipt Officer at environmental testing lab Eurofins earlier this year, Mina’s teachers at TAFE NSW helped modify the structure of the training to allow her to complete her diploma part time.

“My teachers have been great and are helping me to complete my course flexibly since I obtained full time work.

“I have met many other people who have successfully changed their career by studying with TAFE NSW. It gave me the confidence to complete my studies and now I encourage all my friends and family to study at TAFE NSW too.”

TAFE NSW teacher Anne-Marie Skelton said the nationally recognised Diploma of Laboratory Technology can help students hone their laboratory skills and prepare them for a career as a laboratory officer or technician. 

“Students enrolled in the Diploma can pursue a pathway in laboratory science that focuses on specialised industry streams such as pathology or food technology,” Ms Skelton said.

“We know lab technicians continue to be in demand across Australia and both pathways give students the skills to work in laboratory environments working with sample receipts, testing and storage.”

Mina’s new employer - Eurofins Environment Testing Australia New Zealand - is an Environmental testing network of fully accredited laboratories working to test soil, water and air for business and agriculture. As a Sample Receipt Officer, Mina is responsible for ensuring procedures are followed where samples are collected and stored, chain of custody followed (COC) and timely admission into the system.

To find out more about the range of laboratory science courses available at TAFE NSW including the Diploma of Laboratory Technology visit www.tafensw.edu.au or call 131 601.

Media contact: Alice Dalley, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, alice.dalley1@tafensw.edu.au, mobile 0402 528 210. 

• 1. https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/environmental-testing-market.asp