Their story
Home to Canberra, and to the stories
“Being old doesn't mean you can't do things. You've got a whole lifetime of experience to make your life a full one.”
I grew up in Canberra, and for the last couple of years I lived in Tasmania, looking after my elderly parents. Now I'm back, and I'm proud to be leading Birchmere here in the ACT.
Caring for my parents taught me how much good care is about the little things: being comfortable, being listened to, and having something to look forward to in the day.
What I love most about this work is the stories. Older people have a lifetime of experience, and I never get tired of hearing it and learning from it. Being old doesn't mean you can't do things. It means you've got more to draw on than the rest of us.
Sometimes all it takes is the right question. I once sat with a man who'd hardly spoken all morning, and asked him about the first car he ever owned. An hour later he was drawing me a map of the road trip he took in it. That's what I want every Birchmere visit to be: a person who's comfortable, and a conversation that gives them something to talk about.
When I'm not working you'll usually find me hiking in the Brindabellas.
What I do at Birchmere
As CEO of Birchmere ACT, I lead everything we do in the ACT. Day to day, that comes down to three things.
- Matching each client with a carer who shares their interests, language and personality.
- Looking after families in Canberra, so there's always a real person you can talk to.
- Making sure every visit goes well, and that care in the ACT meets Birchmere's standards.
