Lisa Trotter – Tasmania

Having left high school at the age of 16, Lisa entered the workforce and spent many years working in administrative roles before spending four years as a full-time parent. During this time, Lisa regularly attended the East Devonport Child and Family Centre (CFC), where she built connections within her local community and began considering her future goals.

Lisa then felt ready to return to learning and invest in her own personal and professional development. Motivated to pursue further education, she was unsure where to begin or what pathway would best suit her interests and circumstances.

Through the strong partnership between TasTAFE and the Child and Family Centre, Lisa became aware of the Connect to Education program. Recognising this as an opportunity to rebuild her confidence and develop new skills, she decided to take the first step back into study.

Flexible delivery of the program enabled Lisa to successfully balance this with family responsibilities. In 2025, she completed a Certificate I in Skills for Vocational Pathways and a Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Training.

Lisa embraced every aspect of her learning journey, particularly the workplace-based components. She completed a placement at East Devonport Primary School, supporting students in a teacher assistant capacity and as part of the team preparing 200 meals for the school lunch program. These varied experiences allowed Lisa to develop valuable workplace skills, strengthen her communication and teamwork abilities, and build confidence in her capacity to contribute meaningfully in different environments.

Lisa’s journey demonstrates how returning to education can create opportunities not only for employment and career progression, but also for personal growth, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Realising she has a strong passion for supporting people and families in her community, Lisa enrolled in a Certificate IV in Community Services. With a clear career pathway now in place, Lisa plans to continue her studies by undertaking the Diploma of Community Services next year, with the long-term goal of becoming a Family Support Worker.