Award for Clinical Coordinator Alvin Dube demonstrates Capecare values

At Capecare, we’re committed to nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals. By actively supporting nursing and care trainees through clinical placements with educational institutions across Australia, we’re investing in a future where dedicated, skilled staff provide exceptional care to our residents and strengthen our team.

We were delighted to learn last week that Capecare Clinical Coordinator Alvin Dube has been recognised with the Outstanding Preceptor Award through the Clinical Placements with Older People Program (CPOP). The award honours his excellence in mentorship and the positive impact he’s made on student nurses during their placements.

A mentor who makes a difference

The recognition came through a heartfelt nomination from a student nurse who experienced first-hand Alvin’s exceptional approach to teaching and care:

“Alvin brought a wealth of knowledge to every buddy shift I had with him and approached teaching with so much patience, clarity, and genuine care. He consistently emphasised that caring for the elderly involves not only the individual, but also their entire family – a perspective that has shaped my understanding of compassionate, person-centred care.

“From the very beginning, Alvin made me feel valued as a student. He took the time to ask, ‘What can I teach you?’ A simple question that had a lasting impact on me. It demonstrated his genuine commitment to my learning and made me feel safe asking questions while growing in confidence. Thanks to his support, my confidence has soared throughout this placement.

Alvin also made the effort to walk me through procedures step by step, never rushing, and always ensuring I understood the ‘why’ behind the ‘how.’ His dedication to both patient care and teaching is truly inspiring, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from such an amazing nurse.”

Building a legacy of care

CEO Tim Nayton said Alvin’s award reflected the values at the heart of Capecare – compassion, respect, partnership, and a commitment to person-centred care.

“His ability to inspire confidence in emerging nurses while maintaining the highest standards of resident care exemplifies the quality of our team,” Tim said.

“We are so lucky to have Alvin caring for our residents and being part of the Capecare family. Thank you, Alvin, for everything you do.”

The Clinical Placements with Older People Program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and led by the University of Canberra in partnership with Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, the University of the Sunshine Coast, Central Queensland University, Southern Cross University, and the University of Tasmania.

Two men smiling with a certificate.

Clinical Coordinator Alvin Dube with Capecare CEO Tim Nayton and Alvin’s award , demonstrating Capecare values in action

Combatting loneliness at Capecare

Loneliness is an increasingly documented issue and can strike seniors particularly hard, impacting mental and sometimes physical health.

Capecare actively strives to combat loneliness with a variety of lifestyle activities for our residents in Busselton and Dunsborough.

We recently signed up 8 of our Busselton residents to the Letters Against Isolation Program.

Operating across Australia, the UK, the USA and Canada, Letters Against Isolation connects letter writers to older people via an anonymous online portal.

The handwritten letters and cards are sent to our Lifestyle Team and distributed to residents who are suited to each letter.

This week, the postman arrived! Edie, Greg, and Sally received our first letters from the program.

The letters talked about family holidays to go fishing, childhood memories, and many different hobbies and pastimes.

Thank you, Letters in Isolation and your volunteer writers, for making a normal day just a little bit more special for our residents.

Remembering our servicemen and women

Remembrance Day is an important occasion at Capecare when we stop to honour the courageous men and women who have served and died for our country.

Individual ceremonial events were held at each of our facilities and were well attended by residents and staff.

Special thanks to Volunteer Barton Hatherly for providing musical accompaniment, resident Bob Muirson for his recital of In Flanders Field, and resident Nikolaus Selheim for laying a wreath at the Dunsborough service.

Thanks also to Rev Graham Lawn for officiating in Busselton. He is a regular visitor to Capecare, providing our monthly Christian church service, and thanks also to resident Glenys Reynolds.

And special thanks also to our Lifestyle Coordinator Megan Snitch for organising these moving and important events and to our hospitality team for providing morning and afternoon tea.

Lest We Forget.

Capecare celebrates its home care clients each aged 100+

Capecare celebrated the lives of four cherished home care clients last month with a combined 100th birthday party.

Coined as the inaugural ‘100 Club’, each of the four residents are still living in their own homes in Busselton with Capecare’s help.

CEO Tim Nayton said it was a huge achievement to reach the age of 100 and still be living independently.

“Our Community team recently noted we had four clients who had reached 100 years of age, and we couldn’t let it pass without celebrating and acknowledging these extraordinary people,” he said.

“We’ve created a ‘100 Club’ and plan to hold an annual celebration, bringing together our centenarian clients, their family members and our staff.

“Capecare is a genuine community-based organisation and an important part of our mission is to support the community in which we operate,” he said.

Capecare’s 2025 ‘100 Club’ members who attending the party at Capecare’s new Community Centre were:

  • Joan Harlow – 106
  • Hubert Davies – 104
  • George Ferris – 102
  • Violet Hayter – 100

A joy to celebrate lives well lived

Capecare Community Manager Lesley Cunningham said George, Joan, Hubert and Violet were remarkable people.

“They remind us that life is about resilience, family, friendship and the simple joys of everyday living.

“It is a joy to celebrate lives well lived, their wisdom and presence. Our community staff love spending time with each of these cherished clients and learn so much from them. In turn, our staff feel privileged to assist them to live well at home for as long as possible.”

Capecare provides a range of in-home care for older people in the south west including personal care, domestic assistance, gardening, home maintenance, nursing care and medication support, shopping and community transport. It also provides allied health services, a Community Centre in Busselton for day visits, and overnight respite care when carers need time for themselves.  A new Cottage Respite centre provides private suites, each with a bedroom, ensuite and living room, delicious meals and 24-hour nursing care. For  more information visit our Community Services page.

 

Pictured: Mayor Phill Cronin, Capecare Community Manager Lesley Cunningham, Libby Mettam MP and Hubert’s daughter Jennifer Anderson with Hubert, George, Joan and Violet

Support at Home is Coming

The Australian Government’s new Support at Home Programme is launching on 1 November 2025, bringing important change to how older Australians receive in-home care.

If you are currently receiving Capecare’s home care services, or if you are exploring your options for the future, you may be wondering what the changes mean for you.

To make the transition easier, we have created a helpful guide to assist you in navigating the change and to explain how you can continue to access the care that you need to live safely and comfortably at home.

View and download HERE.

Celebrating our Capecare Champions

We celebrate our incredible team every day — but Aged Care Employee Day is a special opportunity to shine an even brighter light on the people who make aged care truly meaningful.
 
Our employees bring compassion, professionalism and tireless commitment to their roles every day, caring for our residents in ways that go far beyond routine. Whether it’s through clinical expertise, personal support, meaningful conversation or simply offering a warm smile, they contribute to the wellbeing, dignity and comfort of older people in our community — and make a lasting difference in their lives.
 
We are incredibly fortunate to have a team at Capecare that embraces our values and works together to help people thrive as they age. From care staff and nurses to lifestyle coordinators, hospitality workers, volunteers and support staff — every person plays a vital role in creating a warm, supportive and respectful environment for our residents.
 
Thank you for your unwavering dedication, your compassion, and for bringing heart into every part of your work.
 
Happy Aged Care Employee Day — we are so grateful for you.

Capecare Carer Dee makes a huge impact

Dee Naikidi joined Capecare as part of our first intake of Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme carers back in 2022.
She has made a huge impact in that time. Our residents and staff adore her, and she won a HealthX Carer of the Year award in 2023 for her reliability, work ethic, mentorship, and flexibility.
Most significantly, Dee has been able to build her family in Fiji a home.
When Tropical Cyclone Yasa struck Fiji in December 2020, Dee’s family lost everything — their home was destroyed, forcing them to relocate to a makeshift camp. Determined to give her family a better life, Dee joined the PALM scheme, securing a job with Capecare as a carer.
In just seven months, her earnings enabled her to build a four-bedroom house for her parents and daughter, replacing the emergency shelter her family had lived in since the cyclone.
Here’s her story, filmed recently in Busselton and Fiji by the PALM Scheme.

Dunsborough Art Exhibition opens

Our Dunsborough Artists in Residence opened their third annual art exhibition earlier this week.

This talented group paints together every Wednesday morning, transforming the Capecare Dunsborough café into a creative workspace with extra tables, easels, palettes, paints, brushes and jars of water.

It is a hive of activity and positivity, sharing in each other’s creativity. Everyone works on their own project, drawing inspiration from life experiences and the things we see around us.

The group is united by a love of art, no matter the skills or abilities.

Volunteers, family and friends assist our Lifestyle Coordinator Kuvita Kumar and our artists almost every week.

Featured in this year’s exhibition is an intergenerational artwork made with the help of our little friends from GEMS Prep School Dunsborough and assistance of Debbie from Bunnings Warehouse Australia in Busselton.

“The Tree of Life” is a collaborative collage made of individually hand painted pebbles and is inspired by Gustav Klimt’s painting of the same name.

The exhibition is open until Monday 7 July, paintings are for sale and all funds raised are used to buy art materials and artist quality resources.

Free information sessions on aged care Support at Home changes

The Federal Government is introducing changes to the way home care services are charged from 1 July 2025.

A new Support at Home program will replace Home Care Packages and the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme.

Capecare is presenting two free information sessions in June to help people understand these Support at Home changes, plus they will share information on respite care and aged care services available in the community.

Capecare’s Community Manager Lesley Cunningham said the Government’s changes would help older people stay in their homes for longer and hopefully make the system more equitable.

“We’ve been planning for these changes being implemented and are keen to share information with our community members so they can find out how they can access our services,” she said.

“The new process will improve access to services and our goal at Capecare is to keep our community clients at home for as long as possible, connecting them to our services and dedicated support workers to allow them to age in place with dignity.

“Capecare provides a community social centre, respite stays, in-home respite care, allied health and in-home care so we are able to provide our clients with consistent care, tailored to their needs.

Find out about how you or a loved one can access federal funding and Capecare’s services in Busselton on Thursday 12 June at 10.30am at Capecare’s Community Centre at 20 Ray Avenue Busselton, or in Dunsborough on Wednesday 11 June at the CWA Rooms at Capecare Dunsborough at 171 Naturaliste Terrace from 9am to 11am.

Morning tea will be provided and Capecare’s Community team will be on hand to answer all of your questions.

RSVP to community@capecare.com.au or call 9750 2097.

Celebrating Our Capecare Nurses | International Nurses Day

At Capecare, we are proud to shine a light on the incredible work of our dedicated nursing team who care for clients and residents across Busselton, Dunsborough, and the wider South West community.

This International Nurses Day (12 May), we recognise and celebrate the compassion, expertise, and commitment our nurses bring to their roles every single day.

In the video linked below, we profile three of our amazing nurses, offering a glimpse into their day-to-day work and the meaningful relationships they build with those they support.

While we’re grateful for our nurses every day, 12 May — Florence Nightingale’s birthday — is a special reminder to honour the nurses in our lives.

Take a moment today to say thank you, check in, and show your appreciation.

With heartfelt thanks, From all of us at Capecare

Capecare International Nurses Day video

 

 

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