| Specialists
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Last updated
Thursday, 01 October 2009
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 Craig
never realised that volunteering with UnitingCare Ageing would
change his life and lead to career satisfaction he hadn’t thought
possible.
After Craig’s mother had
a heart attack and entered a nursing home, Craig struggled to help
his father perform the tasks his mother had left in her absence.
Despite an understanding
employer Craig soon joined the ranks of the unemployed and became a
member of the ‘Work for the Dole’ program.
Fortunately for Craig,
there was a position at the UnitingCare Ageing facility his mother
was in. This provided the perfect opportunity for Craig to fulfill
his Work for the Dole requirements while also allowing his parents
to spend valuable time together.
Craig started out doing
grounds maintenance but his experience in light steel fabrication
was soon discovered, resulting in the design and creation of a much
loved bird aviary and more complex tasks.
When Craig’s mother
passed away some months later, Craig says “it was volunteering that
literally saved my life”.
“I had begun to fall
into a deep depression that I couldn’t shake, and was not coping
well at all, but pottering around the nursing home and talking to
staff and residents took my mind off what had happened.”
During discussions with
the Volunteer Coordinator Craig arranged to apply for the recently
vacated Work for the Dole Supervisor role and was awarded the
position that same day. Craig’s ongoing commitment to his work has
resulted in further career opportunities and he is now a fulltime
Work for the Dole Coordinator.
Having never known about
the role previously Craig says “I have no doubt in my mind that this
is the job I was destined for”.
Craig is just one of the
5,500 staff employed by UnitingCare Ageing, working alongside 2000
dedicated volunteers to care for the people we serve.
Transitioning towards a
more person centred approach, UnitingCare Ageing is listening to the
needs and desires of both current and future consumers in order to
shape their services. In approaching service provision in this
manner, staff, volunteers and most importantly consumers, will be
able to choose the way they would like to age.
Christine has been
working for UnitingCare Ageing for 20 years, basing the care she
gives around the individual needs of the residents in her care.
Every day Christine
provides exceptional palliative care to residents who are in the end
stages of their lives, as well as supporting their loved ones
through what is often an emotional time.
Passionate about the
important and privileged role that we can play in caring for people
in the end stages of their lives, she is a leader who teaches and
guides by example.
Christine works without
fear or favour, providing individualised care to older people,
regardless of socioeconomic status, cultural and religious
backgrounds.
Each resident’s life
continues to be lived and celebrated in its own unique way with
family and friends in a supportive environment. Children,
grandchildren and great grandchildren are encouraged to be involved
and learn.
Residents and their
families are able to share time together doing the activities that
have meaning for them, reflecting on their life experiences and
having the conversations they need to have in a supportive homelike
environment of their choice.
Christine often takes on
the role of surrogate family and in doing so, has established an
outstanding reputation for the facility and the care it provides to
the people we serve.
UnitingCare Ageing aims
to develop communities of passionate caring people as part of its
six Strategic Challenges. In doing so, the organisation aims to be
an employer of choice with a workforce comprised of skilled,
talented and motivated people.
To find
out more about working for UnitingCare Ageing please visit
www.unitingcareageing.org.au/careers
As a
service group of UnitingCare NSW.ACT, UnitingCare Ageing is
responsible for the Uniting Church’s ministry for older people,
particularly those who are disadvantaged, vulnerable and isolated.
With around 14,000 people in our care, UnitingCare Ageing is the
single largest provider of aged care services in New South Wales and
the ACT.
We seek
to provide positive lifestyle choices for older people that result
in enriching and fulfilling lives. Our services are delivered in a
Christian context characterised by compassion and love for all. Our
team of Chaplains and Pastoral Care workers also provide comfort,
counselling and advocacy for residents, clients, families,
volunteers and staff as a holistic expression of care. This sets us
apart from other aged care providers.
UnitingCare Ageing offers care in a range of
accommodation settings including high care, residential care,
retirement living, community care, day centres, private nursing
services and respite care. We continually strive to develop services
by seeking knowledge, responding to and meeting community
expectations and by developing innovative approaches that will
provide the best possible care for the people we serve. |
