KATE PAGE

SERVICE MANAGER, MERCY PLACE, EAST MELBOURNE

My role at Mercy East is to manage the whole home so I look after resident care, finances, lifestyle, food, housekeeping, just making sure the home is running perfectly. It’s a very rewarding job.

What I love about my job is every day I come to work in a home. The first day I stepped foot into my role at an aged care facility I instantly knew I was walking into peoples’ homes. There was such a warm, loving caring environment. I get to work with caring, compassionate and respectful people every day and the residents really appreciate that. It’s just a great vibe to work in. 

I think we are exposed to a lot of negativity in the world on social media and in the news, but being in this industry restores your faith in humanity, there are good people, really really good caring people around, that’s what my job has taught me. There are a lot of things that the carers do to go above and beyond to make someone’s day really special.

There are great career opportunities and it’s so rewarding just seeing the smiles on the faces of our elderly.

These carers do an amazing job day in day out, they have all the qualities that we look for - compassion, respect, they’re great with their team work but sometimes they are still criticised for what they do and sometimes it is never good enough. I know they feel that, and I see it and that breaks my heart because I know they are giving 100%.

I would encourage any young person coming into aged care to hear our stories, I would like them to hear my experience and the positive impact working in aged care has had on me, and to know how rewarding it is to put a smile on someone’s face every day.