GenU graduate in the running for top award

PROVING it’s never too late to start a business of your own, Lisa Miller is enjoying being her own boss, thanks to some training from local provider genU.

When she decided to go back to study last year and enrol in a Cert IV in Disability with genU Training, Ms Miller said the timing was right for her. Her children were teenagers and she was keen to retrain again, and get up- to-date with current frameworks.

“I had done all my training with Karingal (now genU) and I never wanted to use another provider,” Ms Miller said.

“I didn’t look at anyone else because I knew the outcomes were good and I knew they were supportive.”

Ms Miller said the support of her trainer gave her a solid foundation to build from.

“I’m actually really supportive of genU,” she said.

“I can’t thank them enough for, I suppose, just believing in me as a student and looking at my vision and goals and supporting me.”

Having graduated late last year, Ms Miller has wasted no time using the skills and knowledge she learnt in her course to start her own business. Heart 2 Heart Community Respite Carer Service is a registered NDIA provider, offering a range of disability care options.

Now, on any given day, Ms Miller could be taking clients on either a rollercoaster ride, through a ropes obstacle course or just to a weekly bowling night.

Ms Miller credits the strong foundation of the genU training course, as well as the support she received throughout it, as equipping her to launch the business.

“I always had this dream to set up my own business and put back into the community.”

When it comes to hiring others, Ms Miller has already employed four fellow genU classmates to assist in her growing business.

Her success has been recognised after being named one of three finalists for the Victorian Vocational Student of the Year, to which she said she is humbled.