Courtney Forrester, a proud Mparntwe (Alice Springs) woman, recently celebrated a major milestone – graduating with her Certificate IV in Community Services from ICAN Learn, thanks to a Commbank Scholarship – alongside her biggest supporter, her mum. It was a moment of pride, reflection, and possibility, marking how far she’s come and the path ahead.
For Courtney, the achievement was about much more than completing a course. It was about family, legacy, and stepping into a role where she could give back to her community. Growing up in Alice Springs, she was surrounded by strong women working in community services. Women who showed her what it meant to support others with care, strength, and resilience.
Her mum has spent years working in community services, and her auntie, who sadly passed away a few years ago, walked that same path.
“I saw the certificates my mum and auntie earned through their work in community services, and I knew I wanted to follow in their footsteps,” she says.
For Courtney, continuing this work is also a way of honouring her auntie’s legacy.
“I feel like it’s my way of making my auntie proud and carrying on what they both started.”
Completing her qualification – and graduating with her mum there beside her – made the moment even more meaningful.
“Words can’t really explain it; it means everything to me.”
Building Skills and Confidence
With the support of ICAN Learn, Courtney not only completed her Certificate IV in Community Services, but she also built the skills she needed for her role. What began as a pathway into employment quickly became something more, as her confidence grew and a genuine passion for community services took hold.
After completing her qualification, new doors opened for Courtney, including being awarded a 2026 Jan Pentland Diploma of Financial Counselling Scholarship. This supports her next step into financial counselling – a field where her skills and lived experience are deeply needed.
“I was speechless – I was so happy, I couldn’t believe it when I found out!”
Driven by Lived Experience
For Courtney, the work is personal. Having experienced financial hardship growing up, she understands the pressures many people in her community face and why culturally safe support matters.
“Knowing how hard life can be here, it’s something Alice Springs really needs.”
This lived experience shapes the way she connects with others. It’s not just about sharing information, it’s about building trust, listening without judgement, and creating a space where people feel heard and supported.
“Just having that voice and advocating for those who are too shame to talk.”
Courtney also sees a clear gap. In Alice Springs, there are limited community services workers and financial counsellors, particularly First Nations workers. That makes her role even more important – not only in supporting individuals, but in strengthening services for the whole community.
Impact Beyond the Classroom
Through her studies, she hasn’t just gained professional skills – she’s also grown personally, building knowledge in budgeting, financial wellbeing and resilience that’s shaping both her work and her life at home.
Even her kids are starting to benefit.
“They now understand about savings and the importance of budgeting, so when they go to K-Mart, they know how much they have to spend.”
Courtney’s journey is a reminder that education doesn’t just impact one person; it flows into families and future generations.
Courtney’s studies include the Certificate IV Community Services CHC42021 and the Diploma of Financial Counselling CHC51122 with ICAN Learn (RTO ID: 45177).
Want to find out more?
Visit the ICAN Learn website for current courses and scholarships or reach out to us at administration@icanlearn.edu.au to find out how we can support your training needs.
