Going Above and Beyond

With SPC Care and Hello Care this month launching an initiative to recognise Australia’s aged care workers and their commitment to the community, below we feature two of our staff members going above and beyond to care for the residents and families we support. 

Dylan William – Cooinda in Lithgow, NSW

Dylan knows that sometimes it’s the small things that can have the biggest impact. Whenever he has some free time up his sleeve, you can find him spending it with our residents at Cooinda. Whether it’s going for a walk, playing chess, or watching films – Dylan is passionate about bringing a smile to everyone’s face. 

So when an opportunity presented itself to support the home’s Social Care team, who organise activities and events, Dylan seized the opportunity with both hands. 

“I’d spoken a lot with the residents about their favourite hobbies as well as activities they wish they could still be involved in or do more regularly,” says Dylan. “I’d built a bit of a list and there were a lot of shared interests and the potential for some group activities.” 

Dylan presented some ideas and a plan to staff and, before long, was organising several activities for interested residents. Most notably, this included a trip to Lithgow Dam, where Dylan says participants enjoyed taking in nature and listening to the calming waters. 

Theresa Saint, General Manager of Cooinda, celebrated Dylan’s positive impact. 

“It’s amazing to see the way our residents have connected with Dylan and in particular some of the older men, who may have previously been a bit more hesitant to get involved in activities. I’ve received such wonderful feedback about Dylan and the sense of community he has helped foster. More and more suggestions and ideas are flooding in for future outings and activities.” 

Dylan is looking forward to continuing to grow the social schedule for residents, including an upcoming fishing excursion. In addition, he’s decided to study towards a Certificate III in aged care, so he can provide further support for Cooinda staff and residents. 

“I want to do my bit to make sure that everyone who needs help is being looked after,” Dylan says. “I know having a certificate under my belt will help support my colleagues and the residents of Cooinda, so I’m looking forward to studying and continuing to grow.” 

Ganga Thapa – Wellington Views in Old Beach, TAS

Despite only having joined Respect three years ago, Ganga has already enjoyed working across several support roles, and today she continues to be driven by a love of caring for our residents and their families. 

Ganga started with Wellington Views in Old Beach as a Catering Assistant in 2020, but before long, her desire to engage with and support residents pulled her from the kitchen and landed her a role as a Personal Care Assistant.   

“I’d never worked in Aged Care before, but I really enjoy the environment at Wellington Views, especially all the teamwork and support from my colleagues,” she said. “So when an opportunity came up to become a personal care assistant, I took it with both hands.” 

Since then, Ganga has enjoyed working closely with residents, as well as their families, to provide day-to-day support for their care needs. In addition, she also supports Wellington View’s social care team. This allows her to further her connection with residents as she helps organise and facilitate a broad range of activities to support their engagement with each other, staff members, as well as the home and broader community. 

“Activities are so important for residents’ overall health, including their emotional wellbeing and connection with each other,” she says. “I see this a lot through my work with residents living with dementia… if you keep encouraging them, you see good results. Getting involved in activities allows them to stay engaged as well as remain physically active.” 

Turning an eye towards the future, Ganga says she wants to continue her growth with Respect, and potentially pursue a certificate in nursing. 

“One of my favourite things about working at Wellington Views is the support I’m given to continue to grow and learn,” she says. “I really appreciate being in a team where we share and explore ideas together.” 

For more information on SPC Care and Hello Care’s Aged Care Angels initiative, please go to www.agedcareangels.com.au. Between 6-26 March, they are seeking public nominations for an outstanding aged care worker who deserves to be acknowledged for a chance to win several prizes.