News and views from our community
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Equine therapy: A reflection from Martin Reilly, Spiritual Care Coordinator
Martin Reilly is a Spiritual Care Co-ordinator from Baptcare Sanctuary, about his experience of equine therapy with some of Sanctuary’s residents who are seeking asylum.Being aware: it is what you notice in the here and now; it is paying attention to what is happening inside you and outside you; it is what keeps you safe.These were words from a brochure, Horse Wisdom, given to me and eight residents from Baptcare Sanctuary by the therapist at our first equine therapy session last month.During the session we learned a lot about horses: how they have great peripheral vision but poor direct vision; how they are extremely intuitive animals, picking up on the feelings of both humans and other animals; how they are incredibly giving animals and that as a pack animal, they like to be near - but not too close - to each other.But we learned more about ourselves: how our feelings impacted their feelings and what the nature of our feelings told us about our current situation. But best of all, we forgot about our own situation for a little while and became mesmerised by these big affectionate beasts. One of the residents said, “It was so wonderful for me to be with the horses, brushing them, leading them, stroking them. For a short time I forgot I was depressed.”One horse was named Tiger. He was a New Zealand champion trotter who arrived here in Australia but never won a race again and was therefore discarded. He was welcomed into the equine therapy centre and has learned his place in the pack of five other horses. He was the quickest by far, the most credentialled, and yet strangely the smallest of all these discarded racing animals.The head horse in this bedraggled discarded group, however, was Betty. She was a beautiful mare, and very stroppy, very sensitive to what the horses were doing. A bit like all of us. She was aware of what was around her like it was important to her, and maybe to the pack. A kind of duty. Then there was Jack, the real love of Betty, who was affectionate and playful. We were not sure of his story, but it was probably about failing somewhere in the racing world and therefore being deemed valueless. Not to us though. Jack, and all the other horses we met, were all beautiful and special.Just for a time all of us became aware of something other than ourselves. Just for a time we were able to drift off to another world and be with the horses. We couldn’t keep our eyes off them. It taught us so much. We learned that by being more grounded to the present, to the here and now and to what is actually happening in our lives, we can be more aware of others and of ourselves. And that was freeing.Maybe, however, the biggest lesson for us as all being with the horses, (perhaps especially for the residents seeking asylum, many who feel a lack of value and connectedness in Australia given our hard line and punitive border approach) is that we learned that we too could love again, and be loved, at least by horses. That we are all beautiful and special in our own way. We just hope the government sees that too, so all our residents can know and finally appreciate that they are safe.
- 05 Nov 2022
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Spiritual Care Week 23-29 October | Faces of Baptcare #28 - Nalissa Maberly
What is your role at Baptcare and can you describe a typical day in your job?My role is Spiritual Care Supervisor – Family, Community, Disability and Housing (Acting). I don’t really have a typical day, as I work with the team at Sunshine, supporting Spiritual Care Coordinators in Hobart, Launceston and Brunswick. One type of day is working from the FACS office in Sunshine — this will involve connecting with staff and it may include offering a reflection for a staff meeting. It may also include a conversation had with coffee in hand, while taking a fresh air break. Currently, the spiritual care process for clients is under review and we are working to create a best practice model to more effectively support the client experience and outcomes. This means I will be attending and learning from various programs. I am also providing support to my team depending on their needs.What do you like about working with Baptcare and in the FACS space? Or can you share a particularly special work day/customer interaction you’ve had recently?I really enjoying working with the FACS team. They are such a motivated, passionate, caring and fun team. They are constantly looking for ways to not only support their clients but also give voice to the issues. This month they are doing 16 Days of Activism against family violence.Did you always want to work within the spiritual care space?I didn’t have any aspirations to work in the spiritual care space. I came to it unexpectedly while working at a hospital ER as an Admissions Clerk on a break from a church-based ministry. Needless to say, I never returned to church-based work and have worked in the spiritual care space across hospital, workplace, community and aged care sectors ever since. I am grateful for all the amazing people I have met, the stories shared, the many cups of coffee (of varying quality) and to see the passion people have to make a difference in their unique spheres. Spiritual Care spans the breadth of wonderfully mundane and routine to the exceptional. It can involve connecting with people during times of celebration or on the worst day of their life. Being there for these moments is a privilege.How would you explain spiritual care to people who haven’t come across this role in an organisation?Spiritual Care is working alongside and supporting people to reconnect or notice all that life is giving, and hopefully providing connection, meaning and purpose. It may also be marking events and celebrating people in an honouring way. It may be about taking a breath, pausing and reconnecting, reminding us of who we are and what we are here for. Hopefully Spiritual Care comes from the heart of the Baptcare identity, holding the history, supporting the present and also committed to the future of the people who make up this organisation.What did you want to be when you grew up?This was a constantly changing thing! As I lived overseas for most of my childhood, I wanted a job that involved travel (I even tossed up the idea of being a tour guide at one point!). There was the nurse phase, the lawyer phase, the management phase (this was an ongoing joke in my family, that I could manage and organise anything), and then my most serious phase, to work in international development. So, this past is not directly related to where I’ve ended up.Can you tell us two surprising things about yourself?I speak Thai.Also, I love all forms of transport that aren’t cars – trains, ferry boats, airplanes…not so much buses. One of my favourite pastimes is to plan trips in weird parts of the world that involve trains, boats and anything that doesn’t involve a car or a plane.Do you have a favourite quote or motto in life?Not in a tight concise way, that could be my problem. I do, however, choose to remain open to what may come, plan well and then expect those plans to be disrupted! (In my experience, this is when the most memorable experiences are likely to appear!). Another belief is that people are always more interesting than you think they are, and that finding good coffee anywhere will lead to fellow travellers.How would your friends describe you?Thoughtful, creative, good sense of humour, a good listener and not rushed when it comes to conversation.Do you have a mentor or idol?I don’t really have a mentor or idol but what I do have is a ‘circle of elders’. These are people whose writing, music and thoughts have — and continue — to encourage me. Some of them are Brené Brown, Richard Rohr, Leonard Sweet, Joel McKerrow, Diana Butler Bass, Pádraig Ó Tuama.
- 28 Oct 2022
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Spiritual Care Week 23-29 October | Faces of Baptcare #27 - Danny Parkinson
What is your role at Baptcare and can you describe a typical day in your job? I am the In-Home Care Spiritual Care Co-ordinator for the Loddon region, which covers an area loosely defined by Kerang to Shepparton to Maryborough, and down to Gisborne.My day basically consists of pre-arranging visits with our In-Home Care clients who have indicated they want to receive spiritual care, and then driving through my region to visit these people in their homes. Spiritual care can best be described as a supportive, compassionate presence for people at significant times of transition, grief and/or loss. It is mostly about meaning, hope, purpose, connection and spirituality.What do you like about working with Baptcare and in the IHC space? Or can you share a particularly special work day/customer interaction you’ve had recently?The best part of working for Baptcare is the high-quality people who make up its workforce.Baptcare are very intentional about doing more than just ‘turning up’ or ‘getting the job done’. Our people genuinely care. There is a human warmth and connectedness from the CEO to the local volunteers.Recently, I received some wonderful feedback from a lady who I have been spiritually caring for over the past 12 months. At the end of our session together she said “it has helped so much to have someone to talk to. It has really helped me get through”.Did you always want to work within the Spiritual Care space?No. I was in pastoral ministry, then Residential Aged Care Chaplaincy and Sports Chaplaincy up until a few years ago, and I really enjoyed these vocations. When the opportunity came up to continue similar work in people’s private homes, this really attracted me. There is opportunity for deeper, ongoing conversations and care relationships. I have been in pastoral care work and ministry most of my life, so this was a positive transition.How would you explain spiritual care to people who haven’t come across this role in an organisation?Most care work is either practical, administrative or highly functional. Spiritual Care is about being a compassionate listening presence. We have time to sit, listen, guide and provide feedback if needed. Spiritual Carers can also offer people spiritual and/or religious practices if that suits, and/or invite them on a journey of self-discovery and self-encouragement.What did you want to be when you grew up?Hahaha, an ornithologist. But life did not take me that way. As much as I love birds, I am glad I took another path.Can you tell us two surprising things about yourself?I love solo bushwalking, and I have lived in five states of Australia.Do you have a favourite quote or motto in life?I have two:“When in doubt – don’t”“If you want to be interest-ing, be interest-ed”How would your friends describe you?Relaxed, focused, warm, and just a little bit quirky.Do you have a mentor or idol?Jesus Christ.
- 25 Oct 2022
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Spiritual Care Week 2022 | Faces of Baptcare #26 - Jenny McClish
What is your role at Baptcare and can you describe a typical day in your job?My role at Baptcare involves the spiritual care of residents, their families and staff. I also liaise with church volunteers.Every day, I try to start with a quiet moment in my office, noting residents who need intentional time spent with them. Next, I start in the Aged Care Community, greeting, assessing and spending time with residents.Having said all this, there really is no ‘typical day’. I have to be ready to respond to the needs and requests that are suddenly in front of me. It may be a wife who has just moved her husband into aged care and is struggling with guilt and grief. It could be a staff member who lost her mother earlier in the year and needs to talk. Or it could be great grandfather who has suddenly been confronted with this place now being his permanent residence, when all he wants is to go back to his ‘own’ home.The only ‘typical’ thing every day is that the main focus is the residents and being available to them. Throw into that mix services, phone calls, hospital visits and that becomes a day in my life as a Baptcare chaplain.What do you like about working with Baptcare? Or can you share a particularly special work day/customer interaction you’ve had recently.One of the joys of being part of the team at Baptcare is the support from both team members and management.Recently, I spent time with a man who was on end-of-life care and his family. The family shared memories and then spoke about how they had tried to pray the Lord’s prayer but ‘didn’t do it very well’. At their invitation I read a Psalm and prayed the Lord’s prayer. I also gave them a small hand-carved cross from the Iona community. The son immediately took it to hold for his own comfort. I visited them a number of times over the next days, taking them a printed copy of some prayers and blessings, including the Lord’s prayer. Did you always want to work within the spiritual care space? I have always had a heart for older people. Earlier work in nursing and aged care set the stage for what I’m doing now. Working in this space feels like I’m doing exactly what I have been created to do.How would you explain spiritual care to people who haven’t come across this role in an organization?Spiritual care is about nurturing the whole person. It’s listening to their story, both joyful and sad. It’s hearing what has given hope in the past, what brings joy and most of all, valuing who they are as a person.What did you want to be when you grew up?Although I didn’t have the words for it, I always wanted to be a nurturer. Stepping into nursing training at the Royal Children’s Hospital was my beginning step towards this.Can you tell us two surprising things about yourself? As an extracurricular activity in my first job, I learned to use a Braille typewriter and transposed some children’s stories into Braille, one of which was The Little Prince. I have just recently completed a six-day walk of the French Camino in Spain.Do you have a favourite quote or motto in life? “Take a breath. Take some time and take a breath.”How would your friends describe you? I had to ask some friends to be able to answer this one. Here are their words: ‘Kind, funny, compassionate, caring, good company!’ I’m also told I have ‘a rascal side’ to me.Do you have a mentor?A very wise church leader, Helen, who is now at home in the heart of God, mentored me for a number of years. She was passionate about women with a strong leaning into seeing people experience personal and spiritual growth.
- 24 Oct 2022
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A Reflection for Spiritual Care Week 2022 by Geoff Wraight, Head of Spiritual Care
Those members of our Baptcare family who were working at our RACs - and particularly at Wyndham Lodge and Brookview - will never forget 2020.2020 was the year the Covid-19 pandemic hit our aged care system hard.Our sites were locked down, many staff and residents contracted Covid and tragically a significant number of our residents did not recover from the disease. With no vaccines and limited knowledge of how the virus was spreading, it was an extremely difficult time for all concerned.Our spiritual care staff were also present alongside the residents and staff who selflessly continued to turn up day after day after day. As well as the resident chaplain, several of our spiritual care team members were among those who volunteered to isolate from their families and do extended shifts at these sites to support the residents and staff.A spiritual caregiver’s role is rooted in the sacred space of the selfless acts of listening and quiet presence that promote open and safe conversations that, in turn, create moments of hope and resilience. Many times during this crisis, a spiritual care team member held and cried with overwhelmed staff, held the hand of dying residents, spent hours on the phone to worried family members and loved ones, offered simple rituals and practices to deal with stress and somehow found simple words of hope when hope was scarce.Spiritual care is particularly responsive and relevant in crisis times, times that can wage war on the human spirit – that part of us from which our energy, hope and sense of purpose emerges. They were present alongside our incredible and yet very human frontline staff. They were there to listen and support, to strengthen that connection to hope, to belonging to meaning and purpose when these things were under immense stress.How were our spiritual carers able to offer their invaluable skills during this crisis – when they too are only human?The answer is simple: because this is what they do every day!They are trained and supported to be relevant and responsive in every situation. They are part of Baptcare’s commitment to whole person care, to making real the meaning of ‘partnering for fullness of life’ as it emerges from our rich spiritual heritage. Their role is to be that presence that models and empowers all of us to experience and support spiritual healing and wellbeing.For several of the darkest months in 2020, an additional Spiritual Care Team member stood outside Wyndham Lodge in the staff carpark at 7am and 7pm each day of the week to greet and thank the staff coming and going from their shifts. They gave out treats, listened and encouraged, and even wrote poetry on the asphalt.The image above is from one of those mornings.Several of the staff remembered these moments as being part of what kept them going.The verses below are part of a poem by Michael Leunig and very much sums up the key message of spiritual care.Why not find and thank your Spiritual Care team member this week!Care is the cure.It is slow, It is raw, It is pure.It is simple and bare.It is real,It is bold, It is there. Nothing is newerOr older,Or wiserOr Truer. Care is the cure.(Michael Leunig)
- 21 Oct 2022
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Faces of Baptcare #25 – Meet Evan Dalstead, Safety & Wellbeing Manager
Tell me about your role at Baptcare – what does a typical week look like?My job is to prevent harm to our employees, volunteers, contractors and visitors – the things I do can be as simple as identifying and resolving trip hazards to reviewing safety policies and systems, etc. – it’s a broad role.There’s no such thing as a typical week!Most of my time is spent reviewing things that have happened so that we can make things work even better in the future.I’ve been at Baptcare almost four months now - I started on 27 June.Have you always worked in Health and Safety area?I grew up on a farm so I thought I’d like to be a beef farmer – I just love cows!In my mid-teens, though, I got injured playing sport and began to think about becoming a chiropractor. I gained my qualifications and worked in that field for about 14 years.Having kids made me reflect more on work life balance and how I could spend more time with my family. Being self-employed is very time consuming!I sold the practice and decided to find a job. But I’d never been to a job interview before and was a bit nervous about that. I opened The Age newspaper and started looking for jobs, thinking that I’ll just have a go and practice my interview skills. I picked a job vacancy in Rehabilitation Consulting and never looked back!I’ve been working in the Safety and Workers Compensation area now for about 15-20 years.Your team did a lot of work for RUOK Day (9 September) – tell us more about that.The team put up an intranet site full of useful resources for everyone. There’s links to conversation guides for anyone who’s spotted the signs that someone they care about might be struggling with life.There’s a Talk Kit for our Managers to support them with additional resources and links to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) partners. We sent out a text to everyone, encouraging them to have a conversation with someone if they are not feeling OK (or know of someone who might be struggling).The important thing to remember about RUOK Day is that it’s one aspect of employee wellbeing. It’s more than one day on the calendar to us – it’s every single day that this is important. We are looking at doing more to promote the message to staff that we’ve got supports available for our people year-round.It’s been a tough couple of years for everyone. We really want to encourage people to take advantage of our EAP support. Of course, they offer free and confidential counselling – but there’s so much more to the offering, for example:family counsellingnutrition and lifestyle advicecareer planningmoney management coachinghelp for managers in difficult situationsassistance to deal with conflict.We are always looking to grow the offering and improve the service for our people. The message is that yes, we are here to care for others but we must care for ourselves, too.What are your interests outside of work?I love riding my motorbike and am a passionate Collingwood supporter who loves to go the footy whenever I can.What is your motto in life?Make a difference. Get a little bit better every day and make the workplace safer every day.
- 21 Oct 2022
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National Carers Week 16-22 October | Meet Jenny*, Baptcare Kinship Carer - Kinship caring in Jenny's words
Jenny and Richard* are part of Baptcare’s wonderful kinship caring community. Becoming kinship carers for their grandson has not been an easy journey, but it has been made smoother with the help of Baptcare and their personal case worker. Jenny’s story highlights the complications and exhaustion often involved in being a carer but also the deep gifts experienced by carers who are able to help loved ones’ experience fullness of life.Please tell us about how you became a kinship carerBecoming a grandparent is a very happy event. It is the beginning of a whole new chapter in one's life. It is also easy, compared to becoming a parent for the first time.Of course you worry about your daughter, her partner of some years and their unborn child, and hope they will all be well. And to hold that healthy, newborn baby boy in your arms for the very first time is an unforgettable moment of absolute, undiluted joy and love and gratitude. You know that your daughter is a wonderful, loving mother, believe that she will get help and support from the father, that they will know how to raise their child in this modern world, and that your role as grandparents would be to love and support them, but mostly, to enjoy the times of this new family togetherness...One month later, father had left home and abandoned mother and child without a word of explanation. Our daughter was literally heartbroken. A few months later she suffered a cardiac arrest and respiratory failure and never woke up from her coma. Our 5 month old grandson now only had nan and pop.Fast forward seven years to the present day...It is not easy to be Nan and Pop and raise a grandchild. For us, there came a point when we realised that our love for our grandson was not enough and that we needed help. Pop's health, which had already been poor, was further on the decline, and after Nan did not fully recover after a coma and lengthy stay in hospital, Pop had to take on even more of the responsibilities. Our farm, remote and beautiful, is a great place to live and grow up at. At the same time, it makes it increasingly more difficult to help our grandson to develop, get to school, etc.So Pop registered with My Aged Care. He received reams of glossy, fancy brochures about all the agencies and services an aged person was entitled to. We had countless phone conversations with professional listeners of all those agencies in faraway call centres, who read questions off their pre-set scripts so they could tick off the answers. Unfortunately, we didn't fit their scripts, and, one by one they told us that our case "did NOT fit within their mandate".We decided to make one last call. We rang Baptcare, who run a program called grandparents raising grandchildren. It was a local phone number, not some remote call centre. It was the best thing we've ever done.Baptcare actually listened to our story, and, from the beginning, cared. No pre-set questionnaires, glossy brochures, false promises.Our support worker, Allan, took on our case and came to visit us on the farm. With his help, we finally made progress, and still do. Hardly a week passes without communication, or a visit from him, and we feel very lucky and grateful to have his and Baptcare's support. Our grandson still remembers the first Baptcare Christmas party and barbecue, where he got to play with other children raised by grandparents, and even got a remote-control car from Santa. And Pop got to talk to grandparents in similar circumstances. Since Allan started helping us and facilitating our dealing with many of the above mentioned agencies, our lives have improved considerably. He also spoke on our behalf with the principal of our grandson's school, and other people in the DoE (Department of Education) as we could not get our grandson to school every day anymore, and the DoE would not acknowledge our difficulties. With his help, our grandson got enrolled at e-school as well and was provided with a computer for the days Pop cannot drive him to and from school.We were also generously provided financial assistance by Baptcare in getting clothes etcetera for our grandson. Allan also sped up the process of getting two hours a week of domestic assistance. He spoke on Pop's behalf to Carer Gateway and got him a grant of $3000 for Norwich Farms to provide and deliver meals for us.He is still doing his utmost in trying to help with school transport. And to help us find a way of ascertaining that our grandson's lawful guardianship will be passed on to our son and his partner once we won't be able to fulfil our role anymore.Meanwhile we can look forward to the term holidays, when, thanks to Baptcare, our grandson gets to go bowling. And after I had told Allan some time ago that our grandson likes to play basketball he straightaway looked into getting him a hoop to play and practice at home.Most of all, Allan cares. He listens to our problems, and always gives us hope. He always reassures us that we won't give up.We want to thank Allan and Baptcare for everything they have done for us.Can you describe how you find being a kinship carer?Looking back, I really don't know how we coped. Both with the indescribable pain of grief and loss, and the need to keep this precious, helpless little grandson of ours healthy and safe, and giving him all the love and attention he so fully deserves.I guess you could say we were thrown in at the deep end of kinship caring... But there is, and was, never any doubt in our minds that taking on raising our grandson was the most important and the only right and possible decision we could make. It was, and still is, a huge challenge to fulfil our roles as kinship carers. Our age (mid-sixties and mid-seventies) and decreasing health have become major issues.To see our grandson grow and develop into a fine and happy child is a great gift and pleasure, and I'm sure it keeps us going, giving all of our lives purpose and direction. How is it different to a mothering/parenting role?Our children were born in the eighties. We were lucky enough to raise them in the country. We felt very much part of society and had the sense of contributing and shaping the dynamic of our community. Values and rules were clearly defined and recognised. Back then we were strong and healthy and could enjoy many physical activities together. Parenting wasn't easy - finding the right balance between the needs and wants of children, and still retaining a sense of one's own individuality, at the same time growing as a couple, as well as earning a living presented many challenges.Now, being grandparents raising a child, the dynamic feels quite different. We are a solid team and can devote all our time and energy to kinship caring. Which is just as well, as life has become so much more complex, and the belief and value systems of society have changed. It is not our world anymore. Old people are marginalised, and we don't want our grandson to become marginalised by proxy. Do you attend any Kinship/carer groups with other carers?My husband had, and still has, through Baptcare, the opportunity to talk with carers in similar circumstances. As the Baptcare group meets in town, and transport has become one of our major problems, he cannot get to every meeting, but we can still keep in touch with other carers.To have the Baptcare group and to exchange experiences has made a great difference to our lives. It is reassuring to learn we are not the only kinship carers finding it hard to manage certain aspects of our caring roles. We can also give and receive advice, and we feel like part of a community. Can you share your experience of working with Baptcare?Our lives have changed for the better since the first time I phoned Baptcare. It was a local number, not a faraway call centre. There was a real person answering my call and actually listening to our problems. There was no delay between my first call and Allan Barton coming to see us for the first time. Not once did Baptcare tell us that our circumstances "regretfully do not fit within their mandate ", a standard phrase we have heard all too often. We feel valued, not marginalised, and we know that whatever issues and problems we encounter as kinship carers, we can turn to Baptcare for help and advice.What is one of the most challenging aspects of being a kinship carer?To love and care for our grandson without him being perceived and treated as disadvantaged because of being raised by old people. What would you say to people questioning whether to be kinship carers?It is a very personal choice that no one can make for you. It will be life-changing, that's for sure. If you make that choice, you do not need to feel alone and helpless at times. There are others like you. Baptcare can help you find this community as well as all the help and support you may need.Any last words on Baptcare?Life is truly a journey. Until we found Baptcare there have been times over the last seven years when we felt totally at a loss, abandoned by the society we live in, and wondering why none of the organisations old people are invited to register with in order to access support, have neither interest in, nor time and resources for grandparents raising grandchildren.Baptcare acknowledges the worth of kinship carers and helps them through the rough times.We are so glad Baptcare exists and recognises that it is not always an easy road to be a grandparent bringing up a child in this day and age. Like no other organisation or community, they make you feel like a worthy human being. *Real names changed for privacy reasons
- 17 Oct 2022
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Faces of Baptcare # 24: Ashlin Williams Mental Health Practitioner
What does a standard day involve as a Mental Health Practitioner?Every day is different which is one of the things I enjoy about this role. I work with individuals to set goals around their mental health recovery. These goals are often varied and expansive. Once the goals are set, then we work towards achieving them. This can include exploring various strategies to manage overwhelming emotions with people, encouragement to incorporate strategies into people’s everyday lives, providing resources and information, advocacy and liaising with other services. No two days are the same which definitely keeps things interesting.Did you always want to work in the mental health space? I always wanted to be a social worker and it was during my university studies that I discovered my interest in the mental health sector.What do you like most about your job?Having the ability and the opportunity to provide individuals with the support that they need to empower themselves and make a positive difference in their day to day lives.If someone asked you the top 3 things that are important for good mental health, what would you say?There are so many things that are important for good mental health but if I must narrow it down, here’s my top 3:Space: People need to have a space where they feel safe being vulnerable.Trust: in order to make positive and lasting changes as a practitioner, a high level of trust and respect needs to be reciprocated by both the individual wanting to make changes and their practitioner.Self-care: It may sound obvious, but self-care is so important for literally everyone. Practitioners, clients, families, carers, friends – the importance of self-care should never be underestimated.Do you have a motto in life, or a favourite saying?To quote the amazing Audrey Hepburn – ‘Nothing is more important than empathy for another human being’s suffering. Not a career, not wealth, not intelligence. Certainly not status. We have to feel for one another if we’re going to survive with dignity.’What is something surprising about yourself that people may not know?I have every episode of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ on DVD.If you could give advice to your teenage self, what would it be?Your mistakes don’t define you.Why do you think weeks like Mental Health Week are important?They create conversations. Conversations assist in the de-stigmatisation of mental health and re-writing the preconceived societal narrative of mental health and wellbeing. If Mental Health Week encourages even one person who is experiencing difficulties to reach out for some support, then that’s a win.
- 13 Oct 2022
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World Mental Health Week (9-17 October) - Faces of Baptcare #23: Melanie Fisher, PC&S
What does a typical day look like for you?My days are never the same, which I am grateful for! My team and I catch up regularly to keep projects and programs moving ahead, I address key issues within the organisation, meet with stakeholders about their thoughts and needs, and I sit on some committees…and of course the emails!Did you always want to work in the People and Culture space?Yes! It started in my early 20s with a passion for recruitment - placing people in the right role and contributing to their livelihood. I find supporting others and making a difference to their lives very rewarding. I built my career firstly in Melbourne and then in London, before finally completing a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) qualification in the UK.What did you want to be when you were a little girl?I always wanted to be a Psychologist or Counsellor, and counsel people through mental health and life challenges. I fulfilled my dream of becoming a Counsellor when I returned to university in my early 30s and gained a Master of Counselling at La Trobe and worked as a Counsellor for around five years.What do you like about working in the PC&S space?Now that I’ve combined my counselling skills with my PCS skills, I enjoy being able to connect and contribute more through a behavioural and wellbeing lens, as well as the technical lens. It’s a great opportunity to be creative and design programs that fit our people - not just take a cookie cutter approach. PCS is the advocate for everyone; I am here for the organisation and I’m here for every employee within that organisation. I love being able to make coming to work a positive experience – one that is fair, engaging and meaningful.What are three things that have surprised you in working in this space recently?The levels of resilience shown by our frontline workers is truly amazing! Perhaps I’m not surprised at how strong they are but more in awe. I’m also happily surprised that PCS is being more and more recognised in organisations as an integral part of business. This has created a lot more opportunities for PCS professionals to flex the skills we have. I think the pandemic has really bought that to the fore. And again, I’m happily surprised that people are taking time to reflect on what is important to them and making career and job changes that suit them. This does hit businesses by way of attrition, but as we sit in the midst of the ‘Great Re-Shuffle’ I think we are also well placed to gain fresh new talent and experience as well.What do you think is the most important aspect of a good work culture? Strong and healthy leadership is one of the most important aspects of building a good work culture. The other is where people really understand the purpose or mission of their role. It’s one thing to say, ‘I’m the People Operations Manager and I do XYZ’ but another to say, ‘My role contributes to the wellbeing of the community, as I develop programs, initiatives and structures for our people to work safely and effectively within.’ Safety – psychological and physical – also plays a key role. But culture is not just about one thing, which makes it even more interesting to assess and build upon.We assume you’ve done a lot of interviewing in your time – what is the most quirky question you’ve been asked or memorable candidate? There have definitely been some I’ll never forget, on both sides! People are so interesting in that way. But I think the most memorable candidates or interviewers are the ones you meet and connect with and think ‘I want to work with you – this is going to be great’.Do you have a favourite mentor in the PC&S space?I have some key people that I love to hear from. My manager in London mentored me at a really pivotal point in my career and I am forever grateful for his belief in me. My current manager is also an amazing mentor. Thinking about both of those people, they are humans first and also have this great amount of experience and wisdom. Experience without the human connection is pretty dull. I truly value that realness about them.Do you have a motto in life? My favourite quote is ‘This too shall pass.’ It embraces you enjoying the moment when it’s a happy one, and knowing that when things aren’t feeling so good, that will pass too. It helps keep perspective.Who is your idol?The late Dr Wayne Dwyer is someone I really admire and respect. He is calming and spiritual and intuitive, and has helped me through tough times. But this might sound cheesy – my Mum is my idol! She is the most amazing angelic person with the strength to carry the weight of the world.
- 10 Oct 2022
