By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Sarah Mardling wanted to be a personal support worker since she was 16.
Now, thanks to a provincial initiative that provided free training, the 44-year-old Chatham-Kent native has achieved her dream.
“I’m so thankful for the program,” the newly minted PSW said recently. “I love what I do…when you love what you do it’s not like work.”
Mardling is one of 109 personal support workers enter the workforce as part of a $2.5-million Ontario government program that began training recruits one year ago.
The initiative is now bearing fruit as students across the region wrap up their studies and finish off co-operative education placements.
The success of the project was celebrated last week with an in-person gathering at the Wallaceburg Library. Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton was on hand with other officials to mark the occasion.
McNaughton, Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, said the program is filing a void.
“Across our province, there is a need for more PSWs to help take care of those in our community who need it most,” McNaughton told the gathering.
“This is why our government is investing in programs that connect people who have difficulty finding work with free training and paid job placements in critical industries that are close to where they live.”
The inaugural Grow Your Own HSW-PSW Partnership Program was offered in Lambton and Essex counties, as well as the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
All told it involved 26 long-term care homes and other health-care companies. Participants were paid by employers for their work through the duration of the program with most heading into full-time jobs where they worked.
Students attended online classes through SE Career College of Health, worked in placements and completed job shadowing as part of their training.
The program also helped out with some extra costs, such as childcare, to provide support to students.
Matt Keech, project manager with Chatham-Kent’s employment and social services division, said several Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support recipients also took part in the program.
Keech said each student was assigned a case manager who helped with troubleshooting and “wrap-around” supports.
“We wanted to see everyone achieve their goal,” Keech said. “They (students) definitely had their challenges, but with help were able to push through.”
Upon completing the program, the new PSWs are able to earn a living wage, leave government supports behind, plus fill positions where workers are desperately needed.
Mardling, who now lives in Windsor, is working for ParaMed as a PSW delivering home care.
The former stay-at-home mother of three, who had one child with a host of disabilities, said her new job combines her two favourite things: driving and helping others.
“I like being able to be there for people and be their strength,” Marding explained of her role. “I like to be their eyes and ears and being able to speak out for them.
“If they need help, I like to get them help and information.”
Having extra supports to help her meet the challenges of going to school made all the difference, she said, adding it helped keep her on track.
“I had a lot of ups and downs, especially with computers,” Mardling noted.
“There were several times I said I might as well quit and drop out, but with encouragement I was able to keep going.”
From being a young mom to handling an ill child, Mardling said she “almost lived in the doctor’s office,” as sometimes life got in the way of getting a post-secondary education.
“Life, kids, relationships…that was all part of it,” Mardling said, although she did manage to get her high school diploma by going to night school when she was still a teenager.
Mardling had started a position with ParaMed as a health support worker, when she was recommended for the Grow Your Own program.
