Staff Archives - Page 2 of 2

Happy Capecare clients and Allied Health staff pose for a photo in the gym

Allied Health Open Day

August 1, 2024/in News, Residential, Staff

Capecare provides a wealth of allied health offerings to our community and our team of professionals hosted an Open Day on 31 July to showcase our services.

Held at our Busselton gym, the day was officially opened by our CEO Tim Nayton. Being a Physiotherapist himself, he spoke about the importance that allied health services play in the goal for many in our community to remain in their own home longer.

Our Allied Health ManagerAnthony Galati-Rando spoke about our growing allied health team and the range of professionals we have on staff. Our physiotherapists, occupational therapists, exercise physiologists and allied health assistants provide a variety of services from rehabilitation, equipment assessment or tailored programs to improve strength, mobility or cognition for the client, all depending on their individual goals.

Community Manager Lesley Cunningham explained the community home care offerings and how Capecare can support clients in a range of services through CHSP or homecare package funding.

Visitors enjoyed a group class presentation and a tour of the gym with an explanation of the equipment and their purpose.

The group enjoyed morning tea together and took the opportunity to speak to staff from both the allied health and community home care teams.

Winter warmer

July 31, 2024/in News, Staff

Capecare’s annual Winter Warmer event acknowledges and celebrates those in the team who have reached significant service milestones with the organisation in addition to celebrating our graduating Trainees who have completed their Cert lll in Individual Support to become part of our care team.

On Friday 26 July, a large number of our staff members and board gathered at the Geographe Bay Yacht Club for our award presentations.

Award Recipients:

25 Years – Tracey Huitson

15 Years – Patricia Costello

10 Years – Virginia Hart, Ive Gulans, Suzanna Morley, Martin Organ, Robyn Organ, Val Hornibrook, Lallaine Dodd

5 Years – Cathy Farmer, Rachel Lowe, Grant Hewitt, Rose Parke, Shannan Judkins, Lee-Anne Spencer, Philippa Ayre, Hazel Gordon

Graduating Trainees – Katrina Spillman, Kimberly Kinninmont, Asnita Lata, Michelle Brooks

The last award presented for the evening is our annual Capecare Way Champion. This award is presented to a staff member who consistently demonstrates the values of Capecare. This year we had so many worthy nominations we couldn’t choose just one and so awarded two! Kelly McIntyre our Lifestyle Coordinator in Dunsborough and Emma Watson one of our Community Support Workers were the worthy recipients.

We also got the chance to meet our new CEO, Tim Nayton, who started with Capecare this Monday. Tim told us a little bit about himself and how excited he was to join the Capecare family and how amazed he has been with the warm welcome he has received.

It was a fun filled evening and a great opportunity to come together as a team to celebrate.

Capecare welcomes new intake of Pacific Island carers thanks to success with PALM Scheme

September 14, 2023/in Busselton, Dunsborough, News, Residential, Staff

Capecare welcomed four new Pacific Island carers to its team last month, thanks to its partnership with HealthX and the Federal Government’s Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.

Tabeta Itioa (Beta), Akineti Tiotaake (Aggie), Kaekotaake Natibu (Kaeko) and Tuane Neemia (Tuane) have joined Capecare from Kiribati (pronounced Kiribas), a group of 33 small coral islands in the central Pacific.

For the first 10 weeks at Capecare they will continue to complete their Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) and then join the team as fully fledged carers.

This is Capecare’s second intake of carers under the PALM scheme. An initial group of carers from Fiji arrived in 2022, and with the latest additions brings the total to 13 carers. The initial intake were the first Pacific Island healthcare workers HealthX helped move to WA post-COVID.

Capecare Acting CEO Philippa Ayre said the program had been extremely successful and made a significant difference to Capecare’s ability to source a sustainable workforce.

“We have been so fortunate to have Beta, Aggie, Kaeko and Tuane join Capecare, they have seamlessly become part of the team and our residents already love them.”

The Pacific Island carers are placed with Capecare for four years (with annual visits home) which means the program provides a reliable and consistent workforce to supplement local workers.

“Having the Pacific Island team with us for four years means our residents interact with familiar faces each day, which allows us to provide consistent and quality care,”Philippa continued.

“We recognise that our Pacific Island staff are a long way from home, and we have worked hard to ensure that as much as possible they feel they have found a second home with us here.”

For the Pacific Island workers, benefits lie in being able to further develop their skills and knowledge in aged care and will be able to utilise and transfer these skills when they return home, providing a benefit to their communities.

HealthX is an approved employer of the PALM scheme for aged care and sources, interviews, sponsors and employs suitable Pacific Island workers to support aged care facilities across Australia.

HealthX Director of People and Welfare Naomi Dunne said the organisation was excited to be part of this wonderful initiative.

“As a people, Pacific islanders exude warmth and compassion, making them the ideal candidates for roles in aged care,” Naomi said.

“HealthX recognises that this is a life changing move, and we spend significant time preparing our employees for the change of culture and life in Australia.

Capecare staff welcomed the new team members on the first day at their Busselton aged care facility with a traditional Aussie BBQ lunch.

Capecare is the largest regional based independent aged care provider in Western Australia, existing to serve the needs of our older people in the Capes Region.

For more than 60 years Capecare has served the needs of our older people in the Capes Region and is the largest regional based independent aged care provider in Western Australia.

For more information on Capecare’s independent living, community and home care, respite, and residential care services visit www.capecare.com.au

7 people standing in a line smiling and holding award certificates

Capecare

Service milestones celebrated

July 24, 2023/in News, Staff

Capecare’s annual Winter Warmer event acknowledges and celebrates those in the team who have reached significant service milestones with the organisation. On Thursday night a large number of our staff members and board gathered at Dunsborough Country Club for some social lawn bowls and award presentations.

Some highlights:

Capecare Way Champion award recipient May Ling Yap. May consistently displays the values of Capecare. She is a dedicated and hardworking team member loved by staff and residents alike. Nothing is ever too much for May who always goes above and beyond.
Susan Erceg and Robyn Pearce marking 20 years of service to Capecare. Sue is an Enrolled Nurse in our Residential team. Sue is a much loved and respected member of the nursing team recognised as a leader and mentor who is always ready to help others. Admissions Coordinator and Resident Advocate Robyn has had an amazing and varied career with Capecare. Robyn is in most instances the first contact our clients and family members have with Capecare and we couldn’t wish for a better advocate of who we are and what we offer to support the community.
Support workers Carolyn Reeve, Sonia Williamson and Parminder Kaur marking 10 years of service. Each of these valued staff members plays an important role in caring for and helping our community clients with daily tasks, allowing them to live at home for longer. All three are dedicated and passionate carers who we are extremely fortunate to have.
Registered Nurses Claire Rice and Manoj Matthew, Home and Garden Maintenance worker Shayne Macri and Roster Coordinator Liza Hellstrom marking 5 years of service.

Thank you to Capecare board members Yvonne Robinson, Jeff Dick, Glyn Palmer and Mostyn Hamdorf for presenting the awards and Dunsborough and Districts Country Club for hosting the event.

Capecare Busselton female resident Beth Clarke and carer Travis Dean sitting and smiling at each other.

Carer Travis Dean wins an award

May 4, 2023/in News, Staff

“I’ve found my place” – those are the words of Capecare Busselton carer Travis Dean who has finally found a career he genuinely enjoys at the age of 41.

After working as a butcher for many years, followed by a decade-long stint at McDonalds, Travis is now completing his 3^rd year with the not-for-profit.

Working his way up from carer support, to trainee, and finally full-time carer – Travis has never felt more content in his line of work.

His success was encouraged in March when won the ‘South West TAFE Excellence Award for Certificate III in Individual Support’ in a competitive field of over 1000 WA applicants.

“I was shaking when I received the award, I was so nervous,” Travis said.

“I really didn’t expect it. I don’t think I said anything to anyone for a while afterwards.”

Travis said he owed the award to his compassionate spirit and “not giving up”.

“I want to treat people the way I treat my mum and dad,” he said.

“I’m not there for me. I’m there for the residents. I’m a compassionate person and I really care about these people.”

Travis described his workplace at Capecare as a positive environment and that he knew it would help him achieve his vision of becoming a palliative carer.

“It’s a very welcoming workplace and I always feel happy to go to work,” he said.

“Palliative care is an area I think would be very mentally rewarding for myself.”

He said his ability to grow in the industry was due to the staff at Capecare who had helped him every step of the way.

“Any questions I had, they answered them and always went out of their way to help me,” he said.

“I’m very grateful to them.”

If you’re interested in a career at Capecare, contact hr@capecare.com.au or call 9750 2000 to speak to the recruitment officer.

For more information, visit Capecare.com.au

Male carer Travis Dean and Male resident David Clarke sitting next to each other outside, smiling at camera.

Capecare carer Travis Dean and resident David Clarke

Meet Lallaine Dodd, Capecare Team Leader

April 28, 2022/in Busselton, News, Residential, Staff

Caring is not just a job for Busselton’s Lallaine Dodd.

Hailing from the Philippines, Lallaine joined Capecare eight years ago as a Carer after moving to Western Australia. She said she loves the work and, watching her interact with our residents, it’s clear she takes a genuine interest in their needs.

“In my culture we really look after our elderly,” she said. “I really like caring, getting to know the residents and helping them is so rewarding.”

Capecare is helping Lallaine to progress in her aged care career. She has been working as a Team Leader for the past three years and has also gained experience in the Lifestyle Team and in medication competency.

“I’m also studying at TAFE at the moment, and am planning to do enrolled nursing,” Lallaine said.

“Capecare is actually helping me a lot in being flexible in my hours to allow me to work and study.”

When asked what she loves most about Capecare, Lallaine says: “the whole environment, it’s the whole aura in there, I love it”.

When asked if she would recommend Capecare to others, she laughs and says, “I already have! I’ve recommended it to a few people already and two of them are working with me now.”

Capecare supports people like Lallaine to pursue a career in Caring or Nursing. The organisation partners with South Regional TAFE to provide a fully supported 9-month traineeship program for students studying a Certificate III Individual Support (Ageing), who will then become part of their Care team for its residential facilities in Busselton and Dunsborough, and its community home care team. Your course fees will be covered, and you’ll be paid while you study and doing your practical training at Capecare. If you’re studying to be a Registered or Enrolled Nurse, Capecare also offers practical paid experience in Caring or Support Worker roles while you complete your training.

Capecare currently has opportunities in Caring and Hospitality (cleaning) in their residential teams across both Busselton and Dunsborough locations and Support Workers and Domestic Assistants in their community team.

Contact hr@capecare.com.au call 9750 2000 and speak to our recruitment officer, or visit Capecare.com.au to find out more.

Capecare

Capecare workforce boosted by arrival of Pacific Island carers

April 8, 2022/in News, Residential, Staff

We had a most exciting arrival this week, welcoming six new Carers from Fiji to our staff. They will fill much-needed staffing gaps created by the general healthcare staff shortage which has been exacerbated by staff who are COVID close contacts isolating at home.

Capecare has been working with Brisbane-based organisation HealthX since mid-2021 to secure these staff members, the first group of Pacific Island workers HealthX has helped move to WA since the border reopening.

HealthX has worked with hundreds of healthcare and aged care services in regional and remote locations across Australia for more than 15 years to address long term workforce shortages.

The South Pacific carers are placed for three years (with annual visits home) and are currently living on-site at Capecare, so the program provides a reliable and consistent workforce to supplement local workers. For the Pacific Island workers, benefits lie in being able to further develop their skills and knowledge in aged care and will be able to utilise and transfer these skills when they return home, providing a benefit to their communities.

HealthX CEO Carollyne Palling said HealthX worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as an Approved Employer under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme (PALM). “This enables us to employ aged care workers from Pacific Island countries to work in regional and rural locations.

“HealthX worked with Capecare to identify its workforce needs and undertook labour market testing to confirm that positions could not be filled with local workers.

“We then submitted a recruitment plan to the PALM scheme team for approval and worked with the PALM Labour Sending Unit to identify, interview and employ suitable workers from the Pacific islands.”

HealthX assisted with visa applications for the workers and a staff member from HealthX travelled with the Fijian workers to Busselton to help them set up home and introduce them to their new community and workplace.

The aged care workers employed through the PALM scheme have completed an Australian standard Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Home and Community) which is delivered by the Australia Pacific Training Coalition.

Capecare CEO Joanne Penman said management and staff welcomed the new team members on their first day with a barbecue lunch.

“We are so thrilled to welcome Lita, Mani, Vara, Tama, Dee and Viki to our team and wanted to provide the chance for them to meet some of our team and enjoy an Aussie lunch before they commence work later this week.

“They will be an enormous asset to our organisation and knowing they will be here for three years will also provide our residents with consistent care.

“We will soon also welcome a second HealthX Registered Nurse to our team who is from Singapore, and will have a third join us by the end of this month.”

Capecare has a number of skilled and unskilled positions currently available, which can be viewed here, or email hr@capecare.com.au for more information.

Capecare and Jsck Constantine

Capecare welcomes 5 new graduate Carers

February 15, 2022/in News, Staff

Last week we marked a significant occasion with the graduation of five new carers from South Regional TAFE’s Certificate III Individual Support (Ageing), which is an entry level qualification that provides foundation skills and knowledge to become a direct care/support worker. Employment and work with Capecare is a component of the training undertaken during this qualification, and we’re so pleased that each of the five graduates, Linda Sharp, Glenis Gleed, Ella Cull, Oceanna Fardella, and Olivia Hewitt is staying on at Capecare.

Capecare CEO Joanne Penman, pictured on the left of the photo, said the graduates’ commitment to aged care was more important now than ever.

“It’s incredibly important for us to be taking on graduates at a time where it’s really challenging for us to recruit in the aged care sector. Thank you for doing this important work and joining our team, we are so grateful to have you all and so proud that you’ve made it through your traineeship and you’re a shining example to our next group of trainees and I hope that you will go on to be people who influence the way we go about care.

“It’s a work we can feel incredibly proud of. We do make a really important difference to our community and we do provide exceptional care to people who really need us. I congratulate and officially welcome Linda, Glenis, Ella, Oceanna and Olivia to their carer roles and to Capecare.”

On the far right of the photo is Nichola Campbell, Lecturer Health and Community Services, South Regional TAFE Busselton Campus.

Graduates of the TAFE Cert III course who are all commencing work as Carers with Capecare

Senior Support Worker Liza Hellstrom with Capecare resident

Meet Liza Hellstrom, Capecare Senior Support Worker

February 10, 2022/in News, Residential, Staff

A desire to meaningfully help people led Liza Hellstrom to leave her long career in the travel industry to train in a field where she could really make a difference – caring.

Liza Hellstrom, now a Senior Support Worker at Capecare, studied a Certificate III before joining Capecare and hasn’t looked back in the four-and-a-half years since.

“When you get home from a day’s work, you just feel you’ve done something really good,” she says.

Liza’s day-to-day involves roles in and out of Capecare in Busselton. As well as training staff and signing up new home care clients, she visits home care clients in the community to assist with their personal care. Every day is different, and she says she loves being able to get on the road and help her clients with essential tasks.

“I might assist them with showers, help them get dressed and ready for the day, and meal preparation. We help people with making breakfast or if we visit clients in the afternoon we might make a meal for them to have later on at night and we also do medication prompts.

“We do welfare checks – going to client’s houses and making sure they’re okay. We might be the only person they see that day or week. And if we see any change or any decline in their health, we will report that back to our nursing team. We also provide social support which might mean taking people shopping, or staying in the client’s home and just having a cup of tea and a chat, whatever the client wants to do.”

When Liza gets up in the morning, she looks forward to going to work. She loves how rewarding the job is and says it’s a privilege to spend time with people who have such interesting life stories.

Liza says if you like helping people, then definitely look into working in aged care. She said clients are so grateful, and it feels as though you’re really doing something for the community.

Capecare is the largest regional independent aged care provider in Western Australia and Liza said they have been a supportive employer.

“I feel really valued as an employee. They really care about you,” she says. “Capecare are really supportive, always coming to check on us and ask how we’re going. It’s a really good company to work for.”

Originally from Sweden, Liza moved to Australia 20 years ago and has resided in Busselton for four and a half years and couldn’t think of a better place to live.

“It’s so close to all the wineries and lovely beaches. And then we’ve got our foreshore. If you take a client for a drive, you can go down to the beach, and if it’s not too hot, grab a coffee or an ice cream.”

Capecare supports people like Liza to start a career in caring or nursing. The organisation partners with South Regional TAFE to provide a fully supported 9-month traineeship program for students studying a Certificate III Individual Support (Ageing), who will then become part of their Care team for its residential facilities in Busselton and Dunsborough, and its home services community. Your course fees will be covered, and you’ll be paid while you study and doing your practical training at Capecare. If you’re studying to be a Registered or Enrolled Nurse, Capecare also offers practical paid experience in Caring or Support Worker roles while you complete your training.

Opportunities are also available for unskilled Carer Support Workers, Carers, Domestic Assistants and Lifestyle Assistants.

Contact hr@capecare.com.au call 9750 2000 and speak to our recruitment officer, or visit Capecare.com.au to find out more.

Liza Hellstrom, Senior Support Worker

Capecare and Jsck Constantine

Successful 2-year relationship with South Regional TAFE

December 22, 2021/in News, Staff

For the past two years Capecare has partnered with SWRT, supporting their Ageing and Disability Job Ready Program with practical placement opportunities for students, and our own Trainee Program. Capecare runs a fully supported traineeship program for students studying a Certificate III Individual Support (Ageing), who will then become part of our Care team for both our residential facilities, and our home services community.

The students pictured are on the Ageing and Disability Job Ready Program, for those wanting to start a career in the ageing or disability sector, making a positive difference to the lives of others in one of the fastest growing workforces in WA. The Job Ready Program is a fantastic entry level skill set that, once completed, allows students to go on to study their Cert lll as part of Capecare’s Traineeship Program.

Students spent a day at Capecare Dunsborough last week with Lecturer Nichola Campbell and our nursing staff to experience an aged care facility first-hand.

By completing the Ageing and Disability Job Ready Program, graduates may:

Be offered a job with their work placement employer
Be offered an aged care or disability work traineeship
Develop skills to transition into an allied health occupation
Gain employer references, or
Connect with other employment opportunities within these sectors

Capecare’s Traineeship is a 9-12 month program providing individuals with the foundation skills and knowledge to become a direct care/support worker and preparing them for a rewarding career in aged care. The Program also then provides the opportunity to transition into studying a Cert IV or nursing.

More information on Certificate III Individual Support (Ageing)