Ashlee Slaymaker was named as the Highest Achieving Student in Victoria in the 2007 Prime Minister’s Award for Skills Excellence.

Ashlee is studying VCAL or Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning during years 10, 11 & 12 which includes subjects which count towards a Certificate III in Aged Care Work.

As part of her high school studies, Ashlee attends a work placement at Kalkee Community Aged Care, at Murray Hostel.

SkillsOne caught up with Ashley at the Hostel to find out what she enjoys about the work.

PRIME MINISTER’S AWARD for Skills Excellence - Highest Achieving Student in Victoria:

‘Recognising Vocational Excellence in Secondary Education’

Name: Ashlee Slaymaker, 18, of Whittington, Victoria

School: Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College

Qualifications: Year 12 Certificate

Certificate III in Aged Care Work

Certificate II in Community Services

Ashlee Slaymaker is undertaking an Australian School-based Apprenticeship through Kalkee Aged Care, working towards a Certificate III in Aged Care Work.

As a Personal Care Attendant trainee, Ashlee’s duties include showering and dressing residents, maintaining a safe environment and completing progress notes and care charts.

Ashlee’s school Principal says that she has the right personality for a career in caring and is determined and committed to achieving success.

Ashlee supports her father and siblings in running the family household while continuing to juggle her studies and part- time work.

Ashlee is focused on acquiring the skills and knowledge that will allow her to operate her own aged care facility, a goal she appears to be well on track to achieve.

‘I’m still gaining more knowledge and useful skills that I hope will one day allowme to open and run my own aged care facility.’

‘She has shown her ability to deal with pressure while displaying a positive attitude towards work and school.’

Training as a Personal Care Attendant in the aged care sector, Ashlee Slaymaker is proud to be working in an industry that cares for others.

Ashlee was studying a Certificate II in Community Services (VET) and was so well suited to this that she was offered an Australian School-based Apprenticeship, working towards a Certificate III in Aged Care Work.

Her school Principal says that Ashlee is the first student at the College to receive a school-based apprenticeship in that area, and adds that she has the right personality for a career in caring and is ‘determined and committed’ to achieving success in this field.

‘Ashlee has the right personality for a career in caring and is determined and committed to achieving success.’ says her Principal.

As a Personal Care Attendant, Ashlee’s duties include showering and dressing residents, maintaining a safe environment and completing progress notes and care charts.

Her supervisor at Kalkee Community Murray Hostel says she conducts herself in a ‘quiet, gentle manner and displays a caring attitude toward residents and their needs at all times’.

She has also shown her ability to ‘deal with pressure while displaying a positive attitude towards work and school’.

Ashlee’s continued commitment and enthusiasm for caring for others is admirable considering the difficult personal experiences she has undergone in recent times. Ashlee now supports her father and siblings in running the family household, while continuing to juggle her studies and part- time work.

She is focused on acquiring the skills and knowledge that will allow her to operate her own aged care facility, a goal she appears to be well on track to achieve.