When Rachel joined VERTO's Parent Pathways program in Orange in October 2025, she already had a strong sense of the future she wanted to build.
As a mother to a two-year-old son, Rachel wanted to create greater stability for her family while working towards a career that felt meaningful to her. After hearing about Parent Pathways through a local domestic and family violence service, she connected with VERTO Mentor Zoe Jordan and began turning her ideas into a practical plan.
Rachel had long been interested in community services and felt that her own experiences had given her a deep understanding of how important early intervention, advocacy and trauma-informed support can be for people going through difficult times.
She wanted to use that understanding to help others, but first she needed to find a way to balance study with parenting and everyday responsibilities.
Together, Rachel and Zoe developed a personalised goal plan focused on completing a Certificate III in Community Services and preparing for future employment in the sector.
Before Rachel could begin studying, childcare needed to be arranged for her son. With Zoe's guidance and encouragement, she secured a suitable childcare place, removing one of the biggest barriers standing in the way of her education.
Rachel also needed a reliable laptop for her TAFE coursework, but hers required repairs. Through the Parent Pathways Individual Fund, Zoe helped arrange for the laptop to be repaired, ensuring Rachel could start her studies with confidence.
Once enrolled, Rachel continued building the skills she needed for a career in community services. She completed First Aid and CPR training through VERTO and received financial support to obtain her Working with Children Check.
"Having the financial help through Parent Pathways has been amazing. It definitely takes a massive burden off, not having to worry about extra expenses like checks and other costs along the way," Rachel said.
At the same time, she secured casual work at a local pub and quickly began picking up additional shifts. Balancing employment, study and parenting was not always easy, and Rachel regularly spoke with Zoe about the pressure of managing each responsibility.
"It was really helpful to have someone keeping me accountable to the goals we set together and the goals I set for myself," Rachel said. "It helped me stay on track."
"Rachel was incredibly committed from the very beginning," Zoe said. "She knew where she wanted to end up and was willing to put in the work to get there. It was a privilege to support her along the way."
In June 2026, Rachel proudly completed her Certificate III in Community Services and not long afterwards, she was offered a role in the community services sector, achieving the goal she had set for herself just months earlier.
Today, Rachel is looking forward to supporting others in her community, drawing on both her lived experience and her new qualifications to make a positive difference in people's lives.
For Zoe, Rachel's success is about much more than gaining a qualification.
"Watching Rachel grow in confidence has been incredibly rewarding," she said. "She's created a brighter future for herself and her son, and I have no doubt she'll make a real difference to the people she'll support in her new role."
For more information about the Parent Pathways program, contact VERTO on 1300 483 786 or visit: https://www.verto.org.au/employment-services/parent-pathways.
