Erin McCawley

At just 28 years of age, and being one of the youngest teachers in her department at Chisholm, Erin McCawley is already setting the benchmarks for industry standards, developing training programs to meet the needs of students and outside organisations.

As a Course Co-ordinator, Erin has worked closely with Home and Community Care Organisations to deliver training programs and modules for their home carers so they can achieve a Certificate III qualification. 

Erin approaches her work with enthusiasm and optimism. She believes “Life is about making a positive difference”. 

With both mature age and younger students, Erin finds it is all about support and encouragement, especially learning to deal with some of the more sensitive and private aspects of caring for the elderly.  Erin finds that having worked in the same role as she is teaching, she is able to empathise with her students, having shared the same fears, excitement and apprehension as many of them.

While Erin has achieved much in her young life, she considers one of her greatest achievements was back-packing across Europe, solo.  For Erin, this gave her the belief and confidence to strive for her goals, both personally and professionally.  She constantly draws on things she learnt during this time to help her overcome the barriers and obstacles life sometimes poses.

Erin says that the greatest challenge in life is having the ability to step out of your comfort zone so that you can go on and do things you never thought possible. 
Erin has vast industry experience having worked as a Division 1 Nurse.  She began her nursing career at Frankston Hospital as a general surgical nurse and paediatric nurse.  She also worked for a nursing agency where she undertook a variety of roles at Residential Aged Care Homes and Acute Hospitals.

As well as teaching at Chisholm, Erin keeps her professional skills current as a bank staff member with Peninsula Private, working there as time allows.