SOP of Diploma of Community Service

 

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Respected Sir/Madam

With due respect, I am submitting this SOP to Australian High Commission New Delhi, as one of the requirements to apply for student (subclass 500) visa to study Certificate IV in Ageing Support leading to Diploma of Community Service at Australia Harbour International College. In this Statement of purpose, I have mentioned genuine history of myself, interest in purposed subject, course outcomes, financial background, my main goal and motive to return homeland.

 

Introduction:  

I am XXXXXX, a permanent resident of XXXXXX Municipality, Ward no. -8, Jhapa, Province no. 1, Nepal with a Nepalese passport number XXXXXX. I was born on XXXXXX.

Academic background

I completed my secondary education examination, Grade 10 from XXXXXX, Jhapa in the year 2018 AD by securing 3.35 GPA. Though I was interested in Gerontology career, there was no related study option available in high school so I took default academic choice by studying science at XXXXXXand completed School Leaving Certificate Examination securing 3.01 CGPA in 2020 After completing high school many of my teachers, seniors and family members too motivated me to apply abroad for further study.

Training

After the completion of Grade 12, I  had leisure time which I utilized by joining  Foundation of XXXXXXand successfully completed Graphic Designing course starting from 1st February 2020 to 8th September 2020. During the training period, I mainly covered the topics like Ms Office Package, Email Internet, Photoshop, Coreldraw, Pagemaker etc.  which are the basic computer knowledge and it is useful in every sectors.

Language Proficiency

Throughout the Covid lockdown time I got time to do research about the best study destination in the world and finally decided to choose Australia. So as a part of abroad applying process I took IELTS test on 11 December 2021 and secured the overall band score of 6.5 (Listening-7.5, Reading-6.5, Speaking- 5.5, Writing-5.5). Apart from language score my academic grooming in English medium school for more than a decade has made me familiar with English teaching-learning environment so I would like to request the respected visa officer that there will not be any language related problem during my academic stay in Australia.

Family and financial details:

I have a small family of four members which includes my father XXXXXX, mother XXXXXX, sister XXXXXXand myself. My parents have promised to support me in every way possible for sake of my academic future in Australia.

My father is an owner of E- Rikshaw No. XXXXXXwhich is running under Mechi Zone Tempo from which he makes NRs 603,000.00 per annum. My father is also an owner of house built at Mecinagar -08, Jhapa, plot no. 527 and 525 which he has given in rent so, my father makes the annual income of NRs. 420,000.00 from house rent. Similarly, my mother works as Office Assistant at Foundation of XXXXXX from which she has the annual income of NRs. 409,500.00. On the other hand, my sister works as Office Accountant at XXXXXX from which she has the annual income of NRs 480,000.00

So, the total annual income of my sponsors is NRs. 1,912,500.00 which is equal to AUD 22,303.207 (exchange rate 1 AUD=85.75 NRs.)

In addition to the annual income of my sponsors, Nepal Credit and Commerce Bank has approved an education loan of NRs. 3,500,000.00 which is equivalent to AUD 40,373 (exchange rate 1 AUD= NRs. 86.69)

Hence, the annual income and the education loan depicts that I will certainly not have any financial problem during my study period in Australia. Other verified documents of my financial arrangement are attached along with this Statement of purpose.

 

REASON FOR CHOOSING AUSTRALIA:

After intensive research on the website like, consultation with my seniors and experts regarding the countries that provide quality education, I choose Australia as it is one of the most popular destination for international students looking for quality education in a wide range of sector. I compared the course duration, tuition fees, course structure, living costs, climate, facilities and many other aspects. Despite many options of the countries being available, I found Australia the most suitable for my further studies. There are more than 22000 courses available across 1100 institution in Australia so, students can have lots of options to choose the best program which suit their interest and profile. Qualification gained from Australia is accredited across the world and the Australian products are highly competent.

The quality of education is controlled by Australian government through Education Service to Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000. Tuition Protection Service (TPS) which is designed to protect the rights of international students to get back tuition fee if the provider could not offer agreed on courses in time. The provision of Overseas Student’s Health Care (OSHC) is another important factor included in ESOS act which attracted me to study in Australia. In addition, the responsible protective policies taken by the Australian government in terms of the education system and visa policies have definitely attracted more and more international students and I am one of them.  The Australian education system has a strong international reputation as well as quality education with wonderful opportunities and experiences.

Australia has always been promoting creativity and independent thinking throughout its educational institutions. On the other hand, one of the most appealing aspects to study in Australia is that Australia education gives prime focus on practical learning and scientific research. So, I am much encouraged to study in Australia. Australia is a peaceful, multicultural country with very low crime rate. It has amazing diverse landscapes, vibrant multicultural and harmonious environment. Even the climate of Australia is similar to that of Nepal with the opposite season. So, it would be easy for me to adjust there.

Besides, studying in Australia will provide me the opportunity to observe how the modern health industry is growing and how modern technology has been utilized in the sector of education and other various aspects for my professional growth. So, friendly and hospitable countrymen, low crime rate, strict guns control and stable laws and politics, favorable climatic condition and quality education became the reasons for choosing it as the preferred study destination.

REASON FOR CHOOSING SYDNEY:

Sydney is a friendly city and I am attracted more by it than other cities in Australia or elsewhere. It has people from every corner of the globe with whom I will be able to interact together with a pleasant climate. In choosing Sydney as my destination, I also had an opportunity to choose my desired college from a list of many colleges as Sydney gave more options. It welcomes international students as part of Sydney’s global talent hub. Sydney is Australia’s global knowledge center and business hub, alive with opportunities and possibilities offering world-class education and pioneering research institutions and a wonderful array of cultural activities and professional experiences. It is an ideal city for students to experience the best of Australia's city living in close proximity to outdoor adventure in addition to getting a high-quality education.

WHY NOT NEPAL AND OTHER COUNTRIES? 

None of the education providers in Nepal offer VET based Certificate IV in Aging Support and Diploma of Community Services programs. Some of the institute like KIEC are even offering Aging related courses  but the curriculum was not standard as per my expectation. Some other Nepali colleges like Samriddhi College ,  Golden Gate International College(  Nasa International College(   and so on directly offers Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) but do not offer any program in ageing support which took off my interest to study in Nepal. The available bachelor’s degree in social work does not have advanced course structure. Education providers in Nepal are not serious to manage for internship and provide practical skills to the student which is a very crucial factor to build confidence to work in the practical environment. Besides, students will not get opportunities to become familiar with the latest technologies in Nepal like that of developed countries. On the top of that, the educators in Nepal are not highly competent so, I had no other choice than to look for abroad options.

I did a lot of researches on several education providers in the world and finally chose Australia out of the UK, USA, Canada and other European countries.  I also attended various educational seminars organized by large number of education provider of mainly USA, Canada, Australia, and European countries like Germany, France, and many more in order to get the reliable information about abroad studies. In case of the USA, the crime and violence rate are too high there because of gun free country. Besides the living and educational expenses are comparatively higher in the USA than Australia so, I didn’t find it appropriate to choose it as study destination. Similarly, the UK is considered as one of the marvelous country for higher education but the expenses for living, studying and residing is extremely expensive which is unbearable by the international students especially from developing country like Nepal. So, I didn’t choose it either. On the other hand Canada’s climate is extremely harsh during its long winter and varies wildly because of its geophysical position. Similarly, I prefer Australia in compare to other European nations as it would be troublesome to adapt as many of European nations have the lesser practice of using the English language in daily life.

Why Certificate IV in Ageing Support and Diploma of Community Service

The decision of studying ageing support is not something that came out of a blue but instead I had deep affection for elderly people since my childhood days. My parents for the first time took me to Paropkar Tatha Anusandhan Kendra at Birtamod when I was in grade five. They used to visit that elderly home every Saturday of the month to spend the time with elderly people. Thy also feed them sweets, fruits and Kheer to them and sometimes they even provide clothes to them. Since I was very small, I didn’t realize why they were doing this but gradually I started understanding their philanthropic deed. With every passing day the affection and empathy towards elderly people started cultivating inside me seeing my parents. My mother always used to say we should spend 25% of our income in helping and feeding others.  This wisdom triggered my mind to do something significant for others.  While visiting elderly homes with my parents, I got the opportunity to become familiar with elderly people. During that time, I used to feel empathy for them as I was not in the position to do anything. But with growing age I began to feel more responsible and got the determination to do something for aging people in Nepal. With same mindset, I looked for the academic pathways that will lead me to become an agent of change in Nepali society and I gradually developed interest towards nursing career.

After passing high school I found Aging and community service course as the ideal choice for career dream. Apart from this motivation story I got interested in aging and community service after observing its growing scope in Nepal due to changing socio-economics dynamics. Before the children used to take care of aging parents but nowadays people seek for quality aging care center and due to the demand of market there are many oldage homes being established in Nepal. I believe that pursuing Certificate IV in Ageing Support and Diploma of Community Service at Australian Harbour International College will be a breakthrough in my long-term career as community service worker.  

Actually you do not need any degree to hep and do something for people but the academic discipline in the particular discipline provide me the credibility as social worker and allow me to effectively contribute in this field. The academic degree will offer me the voice and I will be heard so, I am looking forward to start with the above-mentioned vocational courses to make the relevant background to pursue bachelor degree in the same discipline later on.  

Certificate IV in Ageing Support: This vocational course will allow me to learn the skills to work as an aged care worker in the expanding aged care industry. The course is designed to provide training to entry level workers who want to work in residential aged care facilities, community care, community-based organizations and hospitals. This qualification reflects the role of workers in the community and/or residential setting (residential aged care facilities) who follow an individualized plan for provision of person-centered care to people who may require support due to ageing. After completing this course, I will have developed a range of factual, technical and procedural knowledge, as well as some theoretical knowledge of the concepts and practices required to provide service to elderly people. The course combines theory and practical training, with the majority of the learning and assessment taking place in the practical manner where students will be putting their newly acquired knowledge into practice by delivering skills in areas such as personal care, assisting people to maintain independence in their homes of choice, and providing welfare and support services to some of the community's most vulnerable group of elderly people.

Course structure of Certificate IV In aging support:

The program is of 78 weeks (54 study weeks) including 120 hours of work placement in affiliated aged care centers in Australia. The course is delivered through 13.5 hours face to face study and 6.5 hours online per week with 120 hours of work placement in total. Some of the units of competency which I am going to cover while doing Certificate IV in aging support are,

·         Facilitate the interests and rights of clients- CHCADV001

·         Coordinate services for older people- CHCAGE003

·         Provide support to people living with dementia- CHCAGE005

·         Deliver care services using a palliative approach- CHCPAL001

·         Administer and monitor medications- HLTHPS007

Diploma in Community Services:  This course will allow me to learn as well as develop and deliver programs and services that meet various needs of individuals and families. The curriculum will train me to a holistic approach by providing with the knowledge to work with a diverse range of people, using a case management approach. I will also learn other skills such as advocacy, counselling and group work. As part of my studies, I will gain valuable practical experience through undertaking a fieldwork placement. This course will make me eligible to find the roles of community services, case management and social housing workers involved in the managing, coordinating and/or delivering of person-centered services to individuals, groups and communities. Students who complete the Diploma in Community Services will be prepared to work in the community services sector in both residential and community settings. Students will learn how to assist clients with a comprehensive approach that includes social, emotional, psychological, and practical help.

Course structure of Diploma of Community Services:

The time duration of this course is 64 weeks (45 weeks study period). 13.5 hours will be face to face in campus session and 6.5 hours will be online per week with 100 hours of work placement in total.  The strict assessment method including short written knowledge tests, discussions and oral communication case study exercise and so on will help me to be a highly skilled, competent and confident to work in the community as community service provider.

The Diploma of Community Services in AHIC having CRICOS Course Code 01011666 contains 8 core and 8 elective units. Among them some of the units of competencies are listed below,

·         Develop and implement service programme- CHCCCS007

·         Manage and promote diversity CHCDIV003

·         Manage legal and ethical compliance- CHCLEG003

·         Manage work health and safety- HLTWHS004

·         Research and apply evidence to practice CHCPOL003

·         Provide first aid- HLTAID003 etc.

Why Australian Harbour International College (AHIC)

After doing lots of research, I made a final decision of applying in Australia Harbour International College which is a registered and internationally recognized institution in Australia. AHIC offers high quality accredited courses at Certificate IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma Level which are recognized in an international platform. All the courses have been designed to provide students with job-focused skills and expertise to advance and succeed in academic and in their career journey. I found that AHIC is committed to delivering quality training which ensures that students will have an effective and memorable personal learning experience. Moreover, the institution is equipped with world-class facilities, modern classes, advance computer laboratory, modern library with internet facility. Besides, it provides quality education which is affordable and trustworthy. The institution offers practical education and assessment requirements which are specific to the subjects and educators are strict with respect to quality and deadline that makes students ever busy and help to acquire broad knowledge in the related field. As mentioned in the college’s website AHIC is loaded with well qualified and experienced teaching staff, accredited courses designed around employability, modern teaching and learning facilities, and its location makes it the exciting place to study, learn and grow. This college is committed to provide quality education since its establishment to the national and international students creating inspiring teaching/learning environment.  Most importantly, the tuition fee is also affordable with a supportive learning environment and better facilities to acquire knowledge and work oriented occupational skills. Upon the completion of the intended courses from Australian Harbour International College, I will develop the confidence to work independently in my professional field. Therefore, Australia Harbour International College became my first priority out of all the below mentioned education providers in Australia.

Name of providers

Offered courses in weeks

Remark

Australian Harbour International College


Certificate IV in Ageing Support (77w) and Diploma of Community Services (52 w)

Offers the courses of my interest in reasonable fee structure.

Australian Health and Science Institute 

Certificate IV in Ageing Support (52w) and Diploma of Community Services (104 w)

The tuition fee for Diploma program is AUD 26,000 which I found very expensive.

Australia Institute of Business and Technology


Certificate IV in Ageing Support ( 52) and Diploma of Community Service (104)

Former student’s feedback is not good.

Acknowledge Education


Diploma of Community Service (104)

Do not offer Certificate IV in Ageing Support

Institute of Health and Nursing Australia


Certificate IV in Ageing Support ( 52) and Diploma of Community Service (52)

Since it is located at Level 7, 33 Argyle St, PARRAMATTA, New South Wales 2150, I didn’t find the location suitable.

 

Future Career Plan

After the successful completion of Diploma of community Services, I will continue with bachelor’s degree in the same discipline. Then after completing my bachelor’s degree, Australian government legally provide PSW (Post Study Work) visa which I will certainly utilize to sharpen my professional skills for finding good exposure in homeland. During that time, I will gain some experience in an international work environment which will help me build a global network and add more value to my community service profile. An Australian qualification is highly reputed in my country so after the successful completion of the intended course I will return back to my motherland and utilize the knowledge and skills to in the development of the society. Upon the completion of prestigious bachelor’s degree in community services, many doors of opportunities will open for me in homeland.

In my case, after I return my homeland, I will have an opportunity to associate myself with reputed I/NGOs working in Nepal such as  Aide et Action International Nepal (, Ama Foundation , Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN) PVN NEPAL, National Senior Citizen Federation (NASCIF)  and so on  works in the different field of society. Some works for children, some works for elderly citizens and some other works for the socially disadvantageous group of people.  From the very young age I had developed the passion to work in the I/NGOs and provide need-based service to the socially disadvantaged group of people. So, in the initial phase I will join any one of the above-mentioned welfare-based organizations in the positions like behavior support officer, Aging supports worker, residential care officer, social educator, social trainer, Community Care Manager, Support Facilitator of Community Services etc. Since such organizations offers international level payment, I will be able to make around 80k to more than one lakh per month which will be enough to live quality life in Nepal.

I believe that the Australian qualification combined with the work experience gained during PSW visa will make me eligible to find desired position. Moreover, I will also have the scope to find career in various aging related projects initiated by UNDP, International Federation on Ageing (IFA) and other international agencies in Nepal. I will also get the chance to work in various national and international projects in the community. But in the long run I also have the plan to open international level Age care and recreation center in the capital of Nepal and provide quality service to people. While still doing the job, I will establish elderly recreation center and give some of my hours in that agency too.  Through my agency I will also give internship opportunity as well as job to willing graduates of Nepal. I will target the rich population of Nepal and I will use certain percentage of the income to provide free care for poor oldage people who are unable of afford the fee of care house.  This kind of work model will allow me to make earning as well as get social satisfaction by contributing to improve the community service sector of Nepal.

 Motivation to Return Nepal

Many Nepalese have been struggling in Australia for a decade, and despite holding a degree from a reputable Australian university, they are unable to get a respectable job there. On the other hand, I've noticed that several Australian return graduates are getting decent jobs in Nepal based on their international degrees. I don't want to suffer for the rest of my life, so I'll return to Nepal and compete in the easy Nepali market. For me, academic life in Australia is the training ground for my actual job in Nepal; if I stay in the competitive land of Australia, I would never be able to progress as quickly as I can in Nepal. Furthermore, due of its outstanding reputation, Australian qualification allows me to acquire a job in my own country and get paid better. Working in any social organization in my native country will allow me t have good social reputation which I will never be able to purchase with money anywhere in the world. Moreover, as I am the responsible and only son of my parents, so it is my social and moral responsibility to take care and support them in their old age and I also need to take care of my parental properties and assets after my parents. So, I need to return Nepal for sake of fulfilling my responsibilities towards my family and nation too. I have been nurtured in unique socio-cultural environment of Nepali society and this country has defined me and has shaped me into the person I am today. Nepal will always be a part of me and will always remain in my heart. We have our own unique customs and traditions of celebrating social and cultural ceremonies that I do not want to miss by staying in Australia for long. I have big dreams centered in Nepal, not only for myself but for the upliftment of Community service sector in Nepal and I need to get back homeland to work fulfilling this dream. Thus, I do not find any reasons and incentives to prolong my stay in Australia after the completion of my intended course rather I want to return back to my home country.

 

 

 

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