Join us as we meet some of our amazing aged care workers.
Meet Michelle, a familiar face to many in the BaptistCare Orana community – our beautiful residential aged care home based on the Central Coast, NSW.
Working in a hybrid role as both Training Coordinator and Care Supervisor, Michelle brings almost two decades of knowledge and experience to the care team, having worked at the centre for over 17 years.
“I first joined as a Care Service Employee (CSE), providing direct care to residents,” she says. “But after two years, I put myself forward for a government-sponsored Cert IV in Aged Care and was accepted for the program! It was a great opportunity for my development.”
Moving up
Michelle soon took a role as Care Supervisor, caring for residents and managing their care plans, attending to wounds, and administering medications.
In 2022, she decided to combine her Care Supervisor role with a new position – Training Coordinator – which supported Orana’s care workers to stay up to date with mandatory training requirements.
Working closely with the Staff Educator, Michelle gives educational talks to staff and facilitates assessments.
“It’s a great opportunity and I enjoy the variety of my two roles,” says Michelle. “In my Care Supervisor role, my focus is our residents, but in the Training Coordinator position, I’m able to care solely for our staff and support them to achieve their goals.”
Investing in people, no matter their age or stage of life
Michelle says she’s grateful that BaptistCare has continued to invest in her professional development, even into her late fifties.
“Some employers might not have chosen to invest in me given my age,” says Michelle. “BaptistCare has always been deeply committed to professional development and supporting fulfilment at work.”
According to Michelle, she’s not the only one in the team who’s benefited.
“Many employees here at Orana started out in the laundry, servery and care worker roles, and are now Administrators, Client Liaisons, and Roster Clerks.
“There are always internal opportunities and management are always willing to give people a fair go.”
Taking stock of small, joyful moments
Outside of work, Michelle’s great love is spending time with her family, including her husband, four children, five young grandchildren, and two puppies. Needless to say, she’s often on call for babysitting duties!
Spending time both in and on the water is also a big part of Michelle’s life.
“As I’ve got older, my husband and I have taken up a few water sports like kayaking and jet skiing,” she says. “Getting back into swimming has also been a big achievement for me – it’s not something I’ve ever been comfortable with, but I’ve slowly built up my confidence over time. Now I go swimming every week by myself! For me, that’s huge.”
Perhaps from her own lived experience, Michelle says her tip for healthy ageing is to take stock of the small, everyday moments of joy – whether it be sipping your favourite coffee, or soaking up time with family.
“Life will inevitably be hard at times,” she says. “But it’s these small moments of joy that build up resilience and help you through the challenges.”
