Accepting aged care support can be daunting for some older Australians, who might be shifting away from the place they know and love, or needing help to do the daily tasks that used to be commonplace. When this transition is successful, when residents feel at home and clients feel connected, it’s because of our incredible aged care employees.
Friday 7 August is our opportunity to say thank you to the aged care employees who keep Mercy Health’s Healthy Ageing division moving. From team leader and administrators, to nurses, lifestyle coordinators and care workers, every aged care employee plays an integral role in the care we provide and the joy we bring to our residents and clients. We have thousands of aged care employees across Mercy Health – these a just a few of their stories.
Marlene Laporte – Lifestyle Assistant, Mercy Place Dandenong
Marlene always dreamed of being a nurse but, with the cost of schooling in India being unaffordable, she followed her mother into administrative roles locally and in Dubai, before arriving in Melbourne. When the chance to make a change arrived, however, she jumped at it.
“My heart pulled me straight to the care work I’d always wanted to do. I’d cared for my beloved mother Nina Collins until she passed at 93, so it felt like the most beautiful way to give back — to my community, and to this country I’m so grateful to call home.”
Marlene started as a personal carer and now works as a lifestyle assistant, where she regularly uses her skills to create decorations and art for activities and events.
“I love every part of it, and I feel I can do it so well because I’ve finally found a place to share all the creative gifts I never got to use in my earlier career. I wouldn’t trade this work for anything,” she said.
“If anyone asks me what career path to take now, I tell them: caring for the elderly is one of the greatest choices you could ever make…Every day I return home feeling I have done meaningful work, cherished the connections I have made, learned so many stories, gained precious values and grown to appreciate life more fully.”
Tobias Duff – Team Leader, Geelong, Ballarat, Colac & Warrnambool Home & Community Care
After nearly six years working as a residential team leader in supported accommodation for people with disabilities, Tobias says he was looking for a change and “stumbled upon the opportunity to work in aged care!” Initially starting as a service coordinator, he’s now been with the Geelong, Ballarat, Colac & Warrnambool Home & Community Care team for nearly two years.
Working with people from all walks of life is now a highlight of the job.
“For me, the best thing about working in aged care in getting to meet and talk to all kinds of different people. I truly love our clients and our carers. I love getting to know everyone and supporting people through their troubles,” Tobias said.
Of course, working with older people with changing needs has its challenges.
“The hardest part is when people move on. Whether it be their stage of life or their needs changing/increasing, it’s always difficult to say goodbye.”
Tobias believes working in aged care is “best suited to those who truly care about others and making a difference, however big or small.
“You might get along with everyone you meet, or you may not, but it is always important to be you and stick to your strengths, in order to support your clients to the best of your ability.”
Jo Griffin – Service Manager, Mercy Place Shepparton
Jo might be a new addition to Mercy Health, joining as a service manager in February, but she’s been a dedicated carer for 35 years. As a registered nurse, she specialised in vascular, plastics and critical care nursing, and became a nurse educator and an academic. During her long tenure in these fields, Jo nurtured a passion for educating students and registered nurses on affirming the inherent dignity of residents through providing compassionate care at the end of life.
For Jo, the best thing about working in aged care is being able to make a positive difference in the lives of residents and their families “from a holistic approach.”
“This is not only clinical, but through nutrition, pastoral care and lifestyle activities,” she said.
“Also working with staff who are as passionate about affirming the dignity and choice of residents at this stage of their life journey.”
Jo is a strong advocate for the residents in her care, particularly when managing care directives and addressing changed behaviours at end of life. She wants it to be understood that aged care staff know their residents, and what they need, very well.
Jo sees working in aged care as an “opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of the elderly in society, who have contributed so much.
“Now they and their families can receive compassion and dignity affirming care from our caregivers.”
Lucky (Lakshan) Karunarathna – Hospitality Manager, MP Fernhill
Born in Sri Lanka and raised in Hong Kong, Lucky moved to Australia at the age of 18 with no cooking experience and little idea where his career would lead. Drawn to hospitality, he enrolled at the William Angliss Institute, which he describes as “a paradise for learning commercial cookery”, completing a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery before going on to earn a Diploma of Hospitality Management.
Over the following decade, Lucky built an impressive culinary career across Melbourne. He worked as a sous chef in a central Melbourne hotel, managed a catering-focused café in Hawthorn, became head chef at a hotel in Dandenong and gained his first experience in aged care hospitality before joining Mercy Place Fernhill in 2023.
Today, Lucky’s role extends far beyond the kitchen. As Hospitality Manager, he leads not only the catering function but also housekeeping and laundry services, overseeing a team of approximately 40 staff across three critical service areas.
His manager, Roxanne Cadiente, says people often focus on clinical care when choosing an aged care home, but it is often the non-clinical services that shape a resident’s day-to-day quality of life.
“Food is where it starts,” Roxanne says. “Residents care about their meals, they care about the cleanliness of their rooms, and they care about their clothes. These hospitality services are enormously important to resident wellbeing, but they are not always the first thing people think about when they talk about aged care.”
Under Lucky’s leadership, hospitality services have become a key part of the resident experience at Fernhill. His focus on quality, consistency and resident satisfaction supports the home’s reputation and contributes to the positive experiences residents and families have when they walk through the door.
Now in his mid-30s, Lucky’s journey from newly arrived migrant to hospitality leader is one of determination, continuous learning and a commitment to serving others. His story also highlights the diverse career pathways available within aged care, demonstrating that meaningful contributions to resident wellbeing happen in every corner of a home, not only at the bedside.
