Award for student who never gave up

A LOCAL mother of two has proven that success can come at any age by taking home a title at this year’s Apprentice Training Awards.

Wendy Clark, who recently completed training in individual aged care support, was the winner of the Inspiration Award: Overcoming Adversity.

Sponsored by Builders Academy, the award is aimed at celebrating trainees who have overcome challenges to reach their educational goals.

“I was shocked to have been nominated in two categories and also very proud,” Ms Clark said.

The 53-year old completed her course with the support of Women Can Australia while working at Royal Freemasons nursing home.

She overcame barriers to finish her training, including her initial doubt in her capabilities.

“I had to go and do a fitness test,” she said. “Which was really scary because I’m now 53-years old and I had to go and do all these different lifts, lifting weights and plank.”

“I was terrified, I was thinking ‘I’m never going to get into this course,’ and apparently I passed and I got into the course.”

While in training, Ms Clark continued to support her two sons, who both have autism, and her husband who lives with a permanent disability.

She said her motivation to carry on came from her desire to become a qualified carer.

“I wanted to finally get a qualification behind myself, and go ‘hey, I can actually do this’,” she said.

Ms Clark plans on working for a while before deciding if she’ll go on to further studies in nursing or care.

Her advice to anyone unsure about taking on studies at an advanced age, or with perceived limitations is to just try.

“If you can make a difference in your own life, then maybe you can inspire one other person to go out and do the same thing,” Ms Clark said.

“If you’ve got a dream, go out and go for it, don’t let anything stop you.”