Now a single mother she is a role model for what you can achieve through hard work, tenacity and finding a life purpose.

Ms Morrissey started a diploma in Beauty Therapy which wasn't for her, at one stage worked three different jobs to get by and then worked in retail before finding what she loved.

At eighteen, she began working as a disability support worker and her whole world suddenly opened up.

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"Honestly I didn't really think I had a passion for it until I applied for the job when I was 18 as a support worker, I worked in childrens' services with disability support and I loved it, I've got a passion for kids," she told the Daily Liberal.

"I think I just want to be a second voice for them, most of the time they can't have a voice."

After 18 months in that role, assisting people living with disability to access NDIS support services, Ms Morrissey moved to Social Futures where she is now in a senior local area coordinator.

"I liked being a support worker, I liked helping them day-to-day but I wanted to just help them on the other side of that, so I came across the job at Social Futures and for some reason it just fit," she said.

Ms Morrissey had baby boy Carter in June 2019, and juggles life as a single mum and working full-time.

She said her Mum and Dad always encouraged her to study, but it wasn't appealing to her until Carter came along.

"Studying has never been my thing, I hated school. Everyone in my life - my Mum and my Dad - they all pushed me to finish Year 12 and study and I was told you're not going to really succeed unless you get a qualification.

"I just pottered along in life...then I had my little boy and I realised that I really wasn't working for me anymore I was working for him and I wanted to give him the best life that I possibly could."

Living and providing that best life includes continuing to grow in the disabilities support sector and take on more higher leadership roles down the track.

"I eventually want to be in a leadership position and I would prefer to have some study behind me so I thought I'll try and diploma of community services and see where that takes me."

TAFE NSW is offering online learning through its digital arm, offering people like Ms Morrissey the flexibility to choose when and how they can earn their qualification.

"I couldn't go into TAFE and work part time, I just couldn't afford it, and then I found this course and it was flexible and you could do it online. It goes for two years but I'm trying to get it done in a year so then I can move on to the next thing."

In June the National Skills Commission produced the a Skills Priority List to look at skills shortages in the Australian labour market. It predicted strong future demand for community sector and disability services workers, according to TAFE NSW.

Ms Morrissey said there were online forums on Facebook where she could connect with other people studying and in a similar position.

"Once I finish the Diploma I want to do a Bachelor of Community Services. In the meantime, I'm also doing three Statement of Attainments in related fields.

"If there's any other single parents out there that want to do something for themselves or excel in their career and think that they can't, studying online is a really good option."

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