Helping people live well at home across Canberra is what motivates Elizabeth (Beth) every day.  

After joining BaptistCare in 2023 as a community physiotherapist, she stepped into her current role as an Allied Health Consultant, supporting older people through holistic health and wellbeing assessments. 

Like many working parents, Beth’s mornings begin with getting two young children ready for school and childcare. Once the house is quiet, she tries to fit in a run and grab a coffee before her workday begins. From there, it’s emails, phone calls and booking assessments. Quite often, she’s also responding to urgent requests following incidents that may have occurred overnight and need quick attention.

“I visit clients two to four days a week, depending on how appointments are scheduled and usually stay for around two hours,” she says.  

“We talk about what’s important to them, their goals, their medical history and how that’s impacting their life now. From there, we look at how BaptistCare can support them and whether we also need to connect them with other services.”

The objective is always the same: helping people live safely and well in their own homes for as long as possible. 

“Sometimes a goal might be something as simple as wanting to keep going out for coffee with friends,” she says. “Then it becomes about working out how we help make that happen – keeping them strong, organising transport and making sure they feel safe.” 

At the end of the day, Beth is often writing reports or liaising with GPs and family members. “There’s always paperwork,” she says with a laugh, “but it’s all part of providing the best care.”

Health wasn’t Beth’s first career path. After leaving school she worked as a jewellery designer. After briefly considering careers in law or teaching, she discovered physiotherapy and realised it suited her perfectly – active, practical and focused on helping people see real outcomes.

Her decision to join BaptistCare was driven by values and a desire to work in the community. “My experience has been that BaptistCare genuinely lives by its values, and that’s why I’m still here.”

For people considering a career in allied health, physiotherapy, or aged care – or those thinking about joining BaptistCare, Beth has simple but heartfelt advice.

“Just jump into it,” she says. “Aged care is incredibly rewarding. You use all of your skills, no two days are the same, and you can make a real difference to someone’s life in a very short amount of time.” 

Outside work, Beth’s life is full. She spends most of her time with her children, enjoys reading and loves being outdoors. Camping, boating, running and long walks help her recharge. And when it comes to healthy ageing, Beth’s message is clear.

“Keep moving,” she says. “Movement really is medicine. If it were a pill, everyone would take it.”

Interested in a meaningful career where you can make a real difference? 

BaptistCare is always looking for passionate people who share our values and want to help and support communities to live well. Visit baptistcare.org.au/careers to learn more about working with us and explore current opportunities.