Janet developed a passion for working in aged care when she was the clinical teacher for university students from La Trobe University, RMIT and Victoria University in the late 80’s.

While her students undertook their aged care placements Janet observed many practices in aged care that did not impress her and has led to her strong belief that the elderly residents in aged care deserve better.

Janet holds the view that management should take a lead role in making the necessary improvements to deliver quality care and services to our most vulnerable members of the community. Hence, Janet from the acute nursing background decided to explore the work that was provided in aged care and found a great gap.

Janet said she would accept them to work in aged care on condition they undertook training in aged care. This was imperative, as Janet believed that the elderly residents needed appropriately qualified staff to care for them. Janet saw a need in the training in aged care and so started a sole trade business called Professional Development Consultants.

The students requested Janet to teach them so after a day’s work Janet provided formal lectures and placement in the aged care for students to develop their knowledge and skills at all times under supervision. The aged care course was non-award and free of costs to the students. The word spread very quickly and soon Janet was teaching in a class of 10-30 students in her own home three days a week including the weekend. For two years she continued to deliver training at free of cost and the job success rate was very high. As Janet had to pay bills she decided to charge a minimal fee to cover her training costs and this continues to date. As the business grew, always with a strong family feel, the name was to Lawrence Aged Care, and continued to operate till October 2006.

In November, 2006 due to the high percent of students achieving jobs with many going on to university to complete their nurses training, Janet responded to requests from others interested in training and working in aged care to become a registered training organisation and from there the name was changed to Australasian Lawrence Aged Care College.

In January 2007 Janet eventually was approved as a recognised training organisation teaching aged care and then moved on to other aged care, community care and health care courses.

In 2013 Janet proudly announced the inclusion of the Diploma of Nursing as part of ALAAC’s courses of study. 

Janet has made an application in 2012 to ANMC nursing registration council to include training for nurses who have left the profession to join the ‘Return to Practice’ and for overseas nurses to gain registration in Australia to conduct the ‘Initial Registration for Overseas Nurses’.  She hopes to receive approval after the auditing process to commence the course in 2013.