WHEN Sophie Hamann arrived in Bundaberg she had no family or friends.
Now she’s part of the family at IMPACT Community Services.
Last week her fellow CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) students threw a surprise baby shower for Sophie, who is 21 weeks pregnant.
“I’m from down in southern Victoria and my partner and I are new to the area,” Sophie said.
“We came up here because my partner is a reptile breeder and this is part of our end game.
“I’d told all my friends from down south that I wouldn’t be having a baby shower because I didn’t know anyone.
“But I’ve come in here to a class setting and made so many friends … it’s such a great team.”
She said she chose IMPACT because of the face-to-face aspect of its training program.
“I didn’t want to spend all my time sitting in front of a computer and then having to go straight into the workforce,” Sophie said.
“Where we live, it’s pretty isolated, so I wanted to be around people.
“Everyone at IMPACT is so supportive and friendly.”
Sophie chose to pursue a career in disability care on the advice of a couple of her Victorian friends who work in the industry.
She’s enjoying the training and sees a bright future ahead.
As for her baby, Sophie said she had 23 would-be baby sitters in her classmates ready to jump in if she was ever in need.
“I had no idea they were doing a baby shower for me,” she said.
“I had a doctor’s appointment that morning and when I got in couldn’t believe the lengths everyone had gone to.”
If you’re keen to study, IMPACT has a number of upcoming Certificate III training courses starting in March and April.
These include:
IMPACT is a Registered Training Organisation(0115).
For more information, call 4153 4233.