Path to mid-career

Caring for family members—whether young children or elderly parents—can be both exhausting and rewarding. For some, these personal experiences spark a passion that develops into a professional calling to care for others.

To turn this calling into a career, acquiring the right skills and knowledge is essential. Three women, inspired by their own nursing experiences, reveal how courses at NTUC LearningHub have equipped them with the tools they need to make the mid-career transition into healthcare.

NTUC LearningHub, a continuing education and training provider, offers programs developed in collaboration with industry leaders and content partners. Its courses cover a wide range of green, digital and care economy sectors – key growth areas identified by the Singapore Government.

Turn grief into purpose

Ms Nurunnisa Abdullah Sahib Marikar, 47, was heartbroken after losing her sister-in-law to cancer. But when other family members became ill, her grief turned into a desire to understand health and recovery.

“I wanted to learn how medications, physical therapy, or even holistic approaches could help with the healing process,” she said. “I felt like I needed to know more and be able to make a difference.”

After witnessing the many challenges faced by older people in poor health, such as mobility difficulties, Ms Nurunnisa wanted to focus her energy on healthcare as part of her own healing journey. “Not only is it therapeutic for the mind, but it also feels good to help someone in their time of need.”

With a background in customer service, Ms Nurunnisa decided to enroll in the SkillsFuture Career Transition Program (SCTP) therapy assistant course at NTUC LearningHub.

Before joining NTUC LearningHub, Ms Norunnisa had always thought of healthcare workers as mainly doctors and nurses. But through hands-on practice and role-playing, she gained a clearer understanding of how areas such as physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy play a critical role in patients’ recovery.

After completing the course, she got a job as a customer service consultant for a company specializing in rehabilitation products. She later became a physician assistant at a hospital, where she saw a growing need for physical therapy and quality care. Seeking to make a greater impact, Ms. Nurunnisa then launched her own telephysical therapy business, providing therapy to patients of all ages, with a special focus on couples.

“Couples often experience more stress as they both juggle work and parenting,” she explained. “I founded Couple Sparkle with the aim of helping couples through physiotherapy and supporting their mental health.”

Drawing on her knowledge of physiotherapy and the soft skills such as empathy and change management that she honed during the course, Ms Nurunnisa encourages her clients to stay active and healthy. She plans to pursue a degree in physical therapy to expand her business.

“It’s never too late or too late to start something new,” she said. “In these changing times of technological advancement, upskilling is essential to remain relevant, especially in the healthcare industry.”

NEW CHAPTER: FROM HR TO HEALTHCARE