Asma Hasan was one of around twenty graduating students from the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing & Disability) who gathered for their Industry Review class in Coburg last week.  

Beaming with confidence and with a smile firmly planted on her face, Asma’s latest qualification adds to several others in the health care area as she inches ever closer to her dream of becoming a rounded health professional.  

But it’s a story of achievement won against a background of adversity. Her’s is a story of unwavering self-belief, resilience, and grit.  

“I was working in a warehouse five days a week (while studying the Certificate III),” Asma said.  

“My classes were evening (online) classes, from 5 ‘til 9, and I would usually finish work at 6. So, I was going into my class while I was still working! And after one hour, I would race home and finish my class. It was the same with other courses I did.” 

“It’s hard, and I live by myself. My family, they don’t live with me because they are in my home country.”  

“At the same time, I need money. Working in a warehouse or cleaning, that was never my target. It’s been hard (balancing work and study), but I love studying, getting new skills. I’ve been working and building my skills to where I want to work in the future,” she said.  

But the stress of earning a living wage while studying is just the tip of the iceberg of the challenges Asma has faced.  

Ever since sustaining an injury as a child, Asma’s life has been coloured by assumptions made by others about what she’s capable of. Or, to put it more directly, what she’s not.  

“I have a limp when I walk. Something happened to me when I was a child. Everywhere I’ve ever worked, people just assume I can’t do some kind of jobs. They will think and say, ‘Are you sure you can do it?’”, she said.  

“It’s all the time, wherever I go. If I start working somewhere, that’s what people think and say.”  

Nowadays, experiences like this only fuel Asma’s determination to succeed, and to make people rethink their assumptions.  

“To be honest, the more they think I can’t do this, or I can’t do that, something inside me speaks up and says, ‘You have to prove. You have to show them’”, Asma said.   

“I know my ability. Sometimes I have power that other people don’t have. Whenever person challenges me or says, ‘You can’t do that’, I think, ‘Oh really? I will show you then’. And nearly always, I do. Maybe there are some things that I can’t do, and if there are, I will know, and I will tell you.”  

Asma is proud of her track record changing minds and heart. Her warehousing role as a pick packer would have been physically gruelling for anybody. Colleagues initially doubted her capacity to succeed in such high paced and strenuous work. Yet she says she was awarded employee of the month more times than she can count.  

Her earlier experiences in hospital-based health care roles were also no different.  

Asma’s work placement in the Certificate III commenced in September last year, and she carried into it the same mindset that is now ingrained in her character.  

“Everyone was welcoming,” Asma said, speaking of her first day of placement in a residential aged care facility.   

“But I also (was concerned) people might judge you, when they saw you first, the way you’re walking. But what I say all the time is ‘I know what I can do and what I can’t do’”.

“After I work one week, in my second week, everyone starts loving me! Other PCA’s (personal care assistants) would say to me, ‘Could you work with me today?’ Whenever my trainer came, they (other nurses) would comment to her, ‘Asma, she’s a quick learner, she’s a hard worker, she’s smart’. It was a really good experience. Everyone there, there staff, the residents were great,” Asma said.

Asma said her cultural skills also proved an asset in her care for elderly consumers while on placement.  

“I speak a bit of Arabic, and there’s a lot of consumers there who speak Arabic. So, I’d chat with them, and then the other nurses would keep calling me, ‘Can you translate for us for this consumer because you speak Arabic?’ I was happy to help. I really loved it. I worked two weeks in the memory loss department, like people with dementia. I loved it”.  

Asma looks forward to striking out into her new occupation after completing a skill set in dispensing medication to residents. She also has the longer-term aspiration to gain accreditation as an enrolled nurse.

“I can’t wait to start applying for job and help others in (aged care) work,” she said.

“Working in health industry was my dream since when I was a child, because I like to help people. I really appreciate and thank to the New Futures Training, for giving me this chance, for having me, for giving me and sending me to placement”.

"My gratitude goes to Allah for empowering me, giving me confidence, and making me the person I am today".

“Wherever I go, I’m friendly with everyone. I’m happy to show people the person I am. How confident I am,” Asma said.  

“I’m happy to show them my ability,” she said.