Marilyn Garbin
Founder of Can Do Training
The Origin Story
I was inspired as a teenager. There was a building close to our home where people with additional needs learned and developed new skills. I was invited inside one day and shown around. I specifically remember noticing a washing machine. After asking what it was doing there, I was told, "this is where we teach our students how to wash their clothes". It was my moment of realisation that people with disability have a lot of ability and how essential it is for their wellbeing to learn to develop and harness such skills that we may take for granted.
Soon after my visit, I was asked by my mother to make my brother's bed. I asked her “why?” Her response was "because he has a disability". Thinking back to my visit, I agreed and said "yes he does and he can make a bed if we show him how."
My brother had ADHD (was very hyperactive). He also had an intellectual disability, and was behind his peers at school in relation to reading, writing, speech and learning. I was inspired to engage in volunteer work with adults with additional needs to have a better understanding of the challenges my brother and people with additional needs are presented with. This lead to my enjoyment of learning and embarking on a career in Vocational Education and Training.
Earlier Career
Having worked in business administration for a number of years, I decided in 1999 to accept a position as a Lecturer at a university in New Zealand. I was teaching bridging courses to international students and this was my introduction into the Vocational Education and Training sector where I have been working ever since.
My qualifications include:
Certificate IV in Small Business Management
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Diploma in Business Administration
Diploma in Vocational Education and Training
Diploma in VET Training Design and Development
Graduate Diploma in Management (Learning)
Post Graduate Certificate in Career Development
At Can Do Training, I wish to bring combine my professional skills and experience with my personal experience to help our students strive to reach their potential.
Everyone learns differently.
At Can Do Training, we accommodate and accept our students’ learning styles. Time is spent to ensure skills are developed using a range of methodologies to ensure that practical application of knowledge is applied.
I can’t wait to meet your family and students, so that we can work together to change lives and futures.
