It’s never too late to find a career to love

At the age of 52, mother of six Cathy Burke has graduated from a life changing program which has resulted in a full-time position in a career she loves.

Working for Pacific Link as a housing officer and managing a portfolio of 127 properties, Burke, of Lake Haven, is passionate about supporting tenants experiencing domestic violence or a mental health episode, as well as reducing the stigma around social and affordable housing.

She has been nominated by the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) for Vocational Student of the Year and is proud to be able to use her lived experience positively in the workplace.

Burke recently graduated from the CHIA Cadetship, a life-changing program which offers a 12-month paid employment contract with a community housing provider, enrolment in a nationally accredited training course, and individual learning and employment support.

The program is designed to support people who have experienced challenges in accessing education and employment.

Cadets who have completed the program include people living in social housing, people who have experienced unemployment, young people and First Nations people.

“The kids are all adults now, so it was time to do something for myself,” she said.

“There was no guarantee I would get permanent work, but thankfully I did.”

Burke said she was honoured to be nominated by CHIA as Vocational Student of the Year for the Hunter/Central Coast region and has now been shortlisted as a finalist in the regional finals with the winner to be announced on June 12.

“I was very honoured just to be nominated,” she said.

“The job is very rewarding.

“I live in community housing myself so I feel I have an advantage in being able to relate to our tenants.

“These cadetships give people hope and show others that people living in community housing are not all lazy, drug-using criminals.

“My aim is to change the stigma around social housing, even just a little bit.

“I have an actual career that I absolutely love and I encourage others to think about it; it’s never too late.”

In 2024, 25 cadets graduated from the program, predominantly women living in regional NSW with 80% permanently employed by community housing providers or in the community sector.