Training was a turning point in my life
"A career in healthcare ensures my future is bright."
Priscilla's story
The day Priscilla Ngahuka Jarvis took her eldest daughter into the Kamo Work and Income Service Centre was a turning point in this bright star’s life.
“I saw a notice on the board advertising Healthcare Assistant training”, Priscilla recalls. “I spoke to the receptionist about it and she put me in touch with the programme.”
The successful Industry Partnership between Ministry of Social Development in conjunction with the Northland District Health Board, Te Tai Tokerau Primary Health Organisation and provider Multiskill was developed to address the skill and labour shortage in the healthcare industry.
Priscilla graduated from the programme with a NZQA Level 2 Certificate in Community Support Services and quickly secured work at a local aged-care facility. “All of a sudden it was about me”, Priscilla said. “I had been a good mother to my children and investing in my career now makes it an even brighter future for my children in the long run.”
Born in Auckland and one of six children, Priscilla was in foster care with a family in Whangarei between the ages of eight and 15. “My step parents are good people, I named my eldest daughter Jessica (18) after my step mum.”
After returning to her birth parents, Priscilla became pregnant and was asked to leave school. “It wasn’t a good look to be 15 and pregnant at school”, she remembers. “The father was an older man who didn’t want anything to do with the baby, he was never around.”
Priscilla was with a long-term partner and father of her next three children Rewi (14), Patu (13) and Tracey (10), when he was tragically killed in a motorbike accident. She married some years after his death having two further children, Piripi (5) and Holly (2 ½).
Priscilla is now separated. “Parenting in a blended family was difficult for us”, Priscilla acknowledges. By the age of 30, Priscilla had six children. “I love my children greatly but six children is more than enough.”
Priscilla moved her family to the country with the objective of breaking the cycle of things. “I’d hoped that my daughter wouldn’t follow in my footsteps and be a young mum but she has”, she said. “However my daughter is a beautiful mum and my grandson is a delight.”
On top of working full-time and being a solo mum, Priscilla has undertaken two new forms of study. She is completing the Certificate in Community Support Services Level 3 and also Pre Entry to the Bachelor of Nursing from the Southern Institute of Technology. Priscilla also attends one literacy class a week. “I am hoping to complete these studies and be eligible for the February 2010 North Tec Bachelor of Nursing programme in Whangarei.”
Annette Robertson from Te Tai Tokerau Primary Health Organisation is in no doubt that Priscilla will succeed. “Priscilla has developed sheer determination and is destined for great things”, Annette Robertson said. “She is very focused and committed to improving the care of older people in the community. Actually she has the potential to become a nurse leader in Maori health throughout Northland.”
Her achievements haven’t gone unnoticed either with Priscilla receiving a number of public speaking requests. “The Northland District Health Board asked me to speak at a providers meeting”, Priscilla says proudly. “I’ve had to ask that we hold off on these things until I have completed my study. I’ve rather a lot on my plate at the moment”, she says with a smile.