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Psychology graduate helps foster the carers
The amazing work done by foster carers from Elimbah to Redcliffe is being nurtured by new University of the Sunshine Coast Psychology graduate Megan Scholes.
Megan, a long-time Beerwah resident and former Siena Catholic College student who recently moved to Kawana, is thriving off her first job in her chosen field.
She was employed in late March as a Foster Care Case Worker with Spiritus, an Anglican not-for-profit organisation providing support services such as accommodation, employment and counselling for the community.
“It was the first job I’d applied for and the first job interview I’d been to,” said Megan, who turned 21 last month. “I didn’t expect to find one so quickly.”
She is based at Morayfield but has a company car to visit foster carers in their homes and other government and community services.
“I have a caseload of foster carers and my job is to support them in any way they need, so they can focus on looking after the children,” she said.
“These carers are a very special group of people who are willing to give up big parts of their lives.”
Megan, who officially graduated in April after finishing her USC Social Science (Psychology) degree last year, said the job fitted perfectly with the courses she studied and her desire to work with families and children.
“The Human Development course was one of my favourites at USC because I was interested in learning about all the influences on a child’s mind,” she said.
“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do when I enrolled at USC but the lecturers are so approachable and Psychology has given me lots of options.”
She said Spiritus had since offered to support her further study, such as a TAFE Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention.
– Julie Gatehouse