Join us as we meet some of our amazing aged care workers.
Meet Lee, a Registered Nurse who works at BaptistCare’s Mid Richmond centre in Coraki on the Far North Coast of NSW.
Lee made the move into aged care nursing in her 40s, after previously working in banking. She still says it’s one of the best decisions she ever made.
The move into aged care
“When I worked for the bank, I had to commute a long way and it became exhausting,” says Lee. “One day I’d just had enough and decided to do something totally new.
“A local job network recommended aged care, which was very close to my heart at that time.”
Lee had been supporting both of her grandmothers, both of whom were living with dementia. She felt like an opportunity to move into aged care had arrived at a perfect moment in her life.
“I began as an aged care worker, and after a short time I decided to pursue nursing,” says Lee.
Keen to challenge herself, learn more, and take on more responsibility, Lee soon graduated as a registered nurse and has been nursing local people in various aged care homes across the region for almost two decades.
“I love that I can make a genuine difference in someone’s life,” says Lee. “In a small town like this, you often find yourself caring for people you know, like an old school friend’s parents, or a previous schoolteacher. It's a real privilege to be able to care for those who once cared for you.”
An unintended career break
In 2022, Lismore and the surrounding region suffered catastrophic flooding that caused unprecedented damage and disruption. Tens of thousands of people were displaced, and thousands of businesses were destroyed.
Lee was working in a local aged care home that was sadly destroyed, with all the residents and staff having to be evacuated to escape rising flood waters.
Out of work for a time, Lee took the opportunity to volunteer in her community, helping provide food, shelter, and emergency supplies to those who had lost everything.
In July 2022, she returned to work at BaptistCare’s Mid Richmond residential aged care home in Coraki, a short drive from her own home in Lismore.
A lifelong love for musical theatre
Outside of work, one of Lee’s great passions is musical theatre. She was a professional singer earlier in her life when she lived in Sydney, but now enjoys practicing her craft as a hobby with the Ballina Players Musical Theatre Company. She’s been a core member of the Company since 1997, playing major parts in many different productions.
“The highlight of my musical career was, without a doubt, playing Dusty in Dusty the Musical,” gushes Lee. “It was my biggest role – I sang 21 songs and had 19 different costume changes! People still remember me from playing that role now.”
She and the Company are now rehearsing for their next big production, 9-5, which arrives on stage in November!
Share the Dignity
Lee’s commitment to her community doesn’t end there. As a “Charity Queen” for the menstrual equity charity Share the Dignity, she has led a team of local volunteers, or “Sheroes,” and managed relationships with local partner organisations such as Woolworths and Bunnings.
Share the Dignity provides sanitary items for women and girls going through period poverty – which may include dealing with domestic violence, homelessness and keeping up with the rising cost of living.
“Every November, we run our “In the Bag” campaign,” Lee says. “People in the community can donate a bag, along with essential items to their local Bunnings.
“I often invite the BaptistCare residents to help with sorting through the donations and filling the bags – they absolutely love to be involved and are looking forward to this year’s run – it’s coming up very soon!”
