I was in my early years of primary school when I first realised one of my passions was in caring. I noticed the extra support that one of my friends with a disability required every day – and I took inspiration from those who helped them complete the day-to-day activities, by making a real difference in people’s lives.

After I graduated high school, I started my journey into the care industry when I took on the task of caring for my grandmother until her passing, and then I went on to nannying while I completed my certificate. With this experience, I have worked with clients aged from 8 months old, to 105 years old, all with various abilities and disabilities, and from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. I have worked in both community and residential settings, by way of employed work, as well as independently.

Personal care:

• Catheter care, such as emptying, changing and cleaning suprapubic and indwelling urinary catheter bags and the surrounding area
• Stoma care, such as emptying and changing colostomy and ileostomy pouches and cleaning the surrounding area
• Assisting clients with self-management of medication, ensuring all rights were checked and use of medication sign sheets to keep record
• Assisting clients with medications including topical, such as creams and ointments; oral, such as liquid or syrups, including dissolved tablets, and capsules; respiratory, such as use of inhalers and nebulisers; ocular, with eye drops and ointments, otic, like ear drops, and supervision of clients when they administered other forms of medications such as subcutaneous medications like insulin
• Bathing, showering, personal hygiene, dressing, and grooming, at care levels from clients only requiring supervision, to full assistance of clients with rigidity, ensuring the client feels comfortable with their appearance and ability
• Assisting clients with toileting, whether it be with a more mobile client who needs little assistance, or a client who is bed-bound or not mobile, rigid, and requires more than one support worker to help with positioning and cleaning the client, and changing the continence aids
• Transfers via mobile hoists, including the stand-up & full-sling hoists
• Transfers via walk belts and use of manual handling techniques
• Pushing wheelchairs, or assisting clients to mobilise with use of mobility aids or on their own, using manual handling techniques
• Comforting family members and friends of clients when a client has passed on, or is in decline of health – including working with and effectively communicating with all involved with the care, such as other support workers and health professionals, throughout every stage of the client’s wellbeing.

Domestic assistance:

• Cleaning, including dusting, vacuuming, and mopping, and ensuring the general environment is safe and hygienic
• Tidying, such as making the bed
• Washing, and ironing, as well as folding and stowing clean laundry
• General garden maintenance, such as helping clients to repot plants and water the garden
• Help clients care for their pets, such as taking their dog for a walk

Social support:

• Assisting clients with transport to appointments and social outings
• Providing companionship, and comforted clients when they have more challenging moments
• Taking clients out for community engagement like with workshops and events
• Shopping, whether it be accompanied or unaccompanied
• Paying bills via the internet, phone, or post office
• Technology and phone calls, like typing of documents, or scanning photos onto client devices
• Responsibility with reading, entertaining, planning, and organising daily activities
• Encouragement of mental stimulation through play, exploration, and reminiscence
• Assistance with speech development through word association
• Encouraging the clients to do as much as they are able at any given time to reinforce client’s independence and pride
• Running errands

Nutrition:

• Meal preparation, such as cutting up or measuring out ingredients, packaging portions, or cooking the meals
• Assistance with feeding, as well as implementation of IDDSI framework and maps – making up thickened fluids, ensuring meals are at the correct consistency for the client and their needs
• Providing essential newborn care, such as preparation of bottles

Administrative and general duties:

• Filing of hardcopy documents, as well as digitised documents
• Rostering and scheduling of shifts – ensuring employees and clients schedules can be matched, or adjusted when clients or employees have other engagements and appointments
• Use of technology, such as with copying, scanning, printing, emailing, researching, and making and answering phone calls
• Invoicing clients and keeping contact with fund managers and other providers
• Managing and implementing care plans and client goals
• Payroll, including paying employees, taxes, and super, as well as any reimbursements
• Managing finances of the company, such as banking, keeping records, paying bills
• Developed policies and procedures in line with relevant laws and guideline
• Satisfactorily lead the team by example
• Assessing and managing hazards and risks
• Cultivating creative solutions to problems
• Working with colleagues, employers, families, and clients to provide the best care
• Respect and support client’s beliefs and values, as well as those of the company
• Assisting in a manner best suited to support people with different abilities and disabilities
• Continuously training and working on professional development
• Adhering to policies and procedures including privacy and confidentiality