| While we await reinstated funding announced in the Coalition Agreement, we continue our series of Computers in Homes stories. |
My name is Tania Sneddon. I am a solo mother of two children, living in Ahipara, west of Kaitaia.
I enrolled on a Computer in Homes course, found in my daughter’s school newsletter. I thoroughly enjoyed the course, and I feel I gained a huge amount of computer knowledge. My tutor, (Deb Cloete) was absolutely fabulous. I graduated on 26 June 2015 with 40 other people, and took my new computer and all its bits home. I felt this was quite an accomplishment!
Nearly a year later, my children have used the computer for so many things – music, games, research for school projects. I started out slowly. First with email; then I got on to internet banking and studied Introductory Budgeting on-line, which involved downloading information, using Microsoft Word, researching data and sending e-mails with attachments plus scanning, storing, retrieving and resending information.
I finished my studies and received a 98% pass. I started voluntary work at Kaitaia Family Budgeting Service and soon I was offered a full-time position as a budgeting officer. It all happened so fast – it was a bit overwhelming to begin with. I think the greatest feeling was going to Work & Income to sign off the benefit, what an awesome moment!
Now when I go to Work & Income, I go as an advocate for my clients and that is a great feeling. I’ve been here for five months and look forward to work every day. Things are not such a financial struggle now and my children and I are looking forward to a fabulous Christmas.
Thank you for making this all possible for me!
Tania Sneddon, Te Ahu Kaitaia
You’ll find a fuller version of Tania’s story on page 25 of 2017 Computers in Homes half-year report (pdf, 3.8 MB)