News and views from our community
-
Baptcare Affordable Housing’s new PassivHaus project in Sunshine, Melbourne
Secure, appropriate and affordable housing is a basic human right.Homes Victoria and Baptcare with Creation Homes, have collaborated on a new affordable housing project in Sunshine, Melbourne, using a resident-centred approach.‘PassivHaus’ is an innovative design standard with the intent to dramatically minimise a building’s energy requirement whilst taking advantage of natural factors for heating and cooling to achieve thermal comfort.Watch the video to learn more about this ground-breaking project and find out more information about Baptcare Affordable Housing.
- 10 Aug 2022
-
Faces of Baptcare #20: Meet Shobini Balraj, a Baptcare IHC Physiotherapist
We work alongside our customers primarily in a rehabilitative manner, equipping them with the strategies and exercises that will keep them moving, strong and most importantly safe in the home.From a lead physio perspective, I also juggle the administrative side of all physiotherapy-related inquiries or escalations, while providing support to my team of physiotherapists and allied health assistants. I do enjoy the mix of clinical and non-clinical related work as it keeps things interesting for me.What did you want to ‘be’ when you grew up? Did you always want to be a physiotherapist?I initially had aspirations to work in healthcare and become an immunologist to help people with new discoveries. But in my final year of undergraduate studies I realised that, as much as I enjoyed the role, I couldn't see myself working in a laboratory 24/7 as I enjoyed being around people too much! So I transitioned into the Doctor of Physiotherapy as I felt that physiotherapists made a direct impact and difference in improving one's life and fit my bubbly character.Let’s jump to the best bit…do you have any anecdotes about a great work experience you’ve had with a customer?The one that truly stands out for me is a customer who I service out west, who has several chronic illnesses which limit his walking endurance. He informed me that his long-term goal would be to get to the corner of his street (which was a good kilometre away from his home), which he never dreamt he'd be able to do. We put in a lot of work in improving his strength and focused on each walk getting one house further than the last walk; and before we knew it while in the middle of the lockdowns last year, he managed to get beyond that point. He was over the moon as he never thought he'd be able to walk that far. So I do believe in setting small goals and conquering them one at a time, and before you know it the customer has hit their biggest goal.What are the benefits of being an In Home Care physiotherapist? I would say the benefit is having the supportive team dynamic. We work collaboratively with other disciplines (such as OT, podiatry, diversional therapy) to ensure our customers get a holistic approach to their care. I would also say that the job is so varied - no two customers are the same in how you would provide care for them, so you can get very creative in how you approach your sessions with each customer. Additionally, being customer-facing is always nice, particularly during the pandemic, as the customers appreciate and look forward to their time with you, and it works both ways!On this, the eve of Aged Care Employee Day, can we ask why you like working with older people?I have always found this work rewarding, especially when we are able to assist them in making a lot of changes to improve their wellbeing. Also, they have so much insight and interesting stories from their past, and it really makes for fascinating conversations while working with them. They in turn have shaped my opinion on life as wellDo you have a motto in life?I truly believe in ‘don't settle or get comfortable’, as the moment you do, you'll essentially move backwards. I'm all for growth and becoming the best version of myself.Who would you like to sit next to at a dinner party? And why?I would love to sit down with Greta Thunberg, and have an in-depth conversation with her about climate change. It truly is in our own hands, and every small step towards preserving our world counts! It's amazing that someone as young as her has such a passionate opinion about it and is advocating for changes for our future generations.
- 05 Aug 2022
-
The countdown to Aged Care Employee Day is on! A reflection on the power of care (and a hot cup of tea)
Bron Morris, part of our Brookview community, recently experienced a surprising act of kindness that made her reflect on the wonderful power of a circle of care.Heck yeah, we’ll celebrate Aged Care Employee Day! We’re In, hashtag and all! We’ll celebrate every moment of support our carers have given, whether hidden or witnessed. Every act of gentleness, every deed done in the name of dignity. We’ll celebrate as an act of resistance, in defiance of the ageism that turns a blind eye to lives beautifully lived and the stories only sacred wrinkles can tell. We’ll sing the praises of our care staff who spend their working hours pushing through fatigue and sore backs, then go home and continue to care for their families.I’ll celebrate this day because even I forget how profoundly moving it is to be seen, really seen. Sometimes when we’re in a ‘caring role’ (be it with family, friends or work), it seems like we’re covered in a cloak of invisibility. No one sees what we’re doing because it’s just ‘expected’. That’s what parents do for their children, and what children do for their ageing parents. And that’s what aged care workers do for their residents and clients.So there was this moment, this day, when I was sitting with one of our aged care residents, and was a hair’s breadth away from losing the plot. I was under the weather, recovering from a cold, feeling tired and miserable. And our resident was experiencing such anxiety, confusion and distress that afternoon that she needed the constant comfort of someone’s company. (Back in the day she was a strong independent woman, but dementia had really done a number on her and robbed her of the resilience she once had.)Whenever we left her side, she would call out in such anguish that it was distressing for the residents seated around her and extremely demanding on our already-stretched care staff. So I took one for the team and sat with her to calm her. But that day it was so, so hard to stay present to her rambling, confused conversation and her neediness. My eyes began to glaze over.“You look like you need this,” said Chrissy, one of our beautiful catering staff, handing me a strong cuppa with a wink. I could’ve kissed her. Was my desperation so obvious?That moment. Chrissy, and the warmth of her voice, and that small act of mercy in a teacup. I know it sounds like an exaggeration, but suddenly I felt like I wasn’t alone. My misery and self-pity took a back seat, and I felt a shot of new energy even before the caffeine had hit.That moment – of unexpected kindness. Thank you, Chrissy, for reminding me how potent a small, thoughtful gesture of care can be. Thank you for seeing me and being present to me while I tried so desperately to be present for another. You probably thought your offer of a cuppa was just another caring moment that would go unnoticed, but I’m here to tell you that it was the ray of sunshine that saved me on an otherwise very dreary day.I celebrate you my friend, and celebrate every caring soul we work together with…on Aged Care Employee Day and every other day too.Bron Morris is Spiritual Care Coordinator at Baptcare Brookview Residential Aged Care community.
- 02 Aug 2022
-
FACES OF BAPTCARE #19: ANDRE-LUC ARIAS STANNARD (otherwise known as Tour the Otter)
We chatted with Andre-Luc stannard about his roles at Baptcare: workplace trainer and costume play (‘cosplay’) character, Tour the Otter.What do you like about your job as a NDIS workplace trainer? I enjoy many things working in the NDIS space and we have a fantastic team here at Baptcare NDIS. I get countless opportunities to engage and work with NDIS teams and stakeholders across the state. Every day brings a new experience and that’s something I strive for. The work is autonomous, there is flexibility and accommodations made by Baptcare for my own working arrangements and needs. I love the opportunities to undertake projects and represent Baptcare out of the traditional office setting, such as at community events.How long have you worked for Baptcare? I have worked with Baptcare for over 4 years now. I started as a Local Area Coordinator in mid 2018 where I supported NDIS participants and stakeholders in the Glenorchy, Hobart, Kingsborough and Huon Local Government Areas. Mid last year I moved into an office- based role supporting both the North and South of the state in a NDIS gateway phone referral line service. I’ve also had a stint as an Acting Manager which was a fantastic opportunity for my own professional growth. Currently, I am in the Acting Workplace Trainer role.What does a typical day look like for you?A typical day for me is delivering one on one or group-based training around the ever- evolving NDIS Policy and procedures. I also juggle undertaking audits of staff’s work and complete client satisfaction surveys which help me identify training opportunities to deliver to staff.You’re an active member of our Diversity &Inclusion Committee. What does diversity mean to you? Experiencing diversity is part of my everyday work at Baptcare. The people I work with are the epitome of diversity - both clients and staff. At the end of the day we all care about and support each other. I feel cared and trusted by Baptcare to be who I am (and to even get Tour the Otter out for events!)Do you have a motto/favourite saying? Can I have two?Mahatma Gandhi – “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.”I’ve never been afraid to ask questions or propose ideas. All the opportunities I’ve been lucky enough to experience would not have happened if I didn’t ask.Frank N. Furter – “Don’t dream it, be it.”Much like Gandhi’s motto, its’ about having the confidence to not just have big ideas, but to try and bring them to life, no matter how ‘out there’ they are.So, have you and Tour the Otter been in the Baptcare parade for 3 years now or was this his first outing on behalf of Baptcare? I have worn Tour over the years, however, in the previous parades he has only just been a head, paws and tail. This year was the debut of his feet, legs and body! He has always unofficially represented Baptcare each year, but there’s never been any objections, only compliments, so going with the flow, I’ve kept up the tradition.
- 22 Jul 2022
-
How supportive listening opens the path to healing
Sometimes our strongest power is to pause and listen to someone.So often we are compelled to try and think about ways to fix problems. We see people going through challenges and perhaps think, ‘How can I fix this situation?’ or ‘How can I fix this person?’.The truth is, sometimes we need to take a step back and allow that person to tell their story. To unburden their grief and loss. To acknowledge their own pain and loneliness. To express their sorrow and confusion where life has not turned out the way they had hoped.And so it was the case with Doug*, a resident at one of Baptcare’s Aged Care Communities.Ben*, our Spiritual Care Team member, noticed Doug chose to isolate himself from other residents. He could be found in his room most times, except for meals. Doug really didn’t talk much, unless asked a question. He seemed marooned in his own world and by his own choice.But Doug’s heart was breaking.One day, Ben started chatting with Doug. Tears started to well in Doug’s eyes as he talked about what was troubling him.Doug spoke about how his wife had left him while his children were young. The pressure of having very little money and having to pay child support was immense. Now much older, Doug felt his children no longer wanted to know him. ‘They can see my number ringing on their phone, but they won’t answer’, he said. ‘Even the one who had been looking after me before – he said he won’t do it anymore’.There was bitterness in Doug’s voice. Feelings of hurt and abandonment. An inability to get past what was lost. A belief that he was owed more.Nobody can know for sure what happened in Doug’s life to bring about these broken family relationships. It was one side of the story – and as we know, when relationships break down, there can be hurt on both sides. Feelings of disappointment, blame and anger are common.But it is not the role of spiritual care to judge who had done what. It was not Ben’s role to take sides. And ultimately, he realised, it was not his role to work out for Doug how he should fix this.Rather, it was to listen to Doug tell his story and express his emotions.What Doug needed was for someone to listen to all the thoughts and feelings going on inside him. The ones that run around and around our minds, trapping us in negative thoughts. The ones that stop us from acceptance and healing.Our Spiritual Care help provide support to Baptcare clients, like Doug, each day.Approaching every person with compassion and tenderness is key to our supportive listening. Whether experiencing a personal challenge through a life transition, bereavement and loss - or just looking for comfort and encouragement. Everyone’s story is different. But the need to have someone to talk to is the same.Spiritual care is simply about truly hearing what is important for each client to express and share about their lives. It’s through listening that our clients experience the respect of being heard. Which is the first step in the path to healing.Baptcare continues to provide Doug with emotional and spiritual support as he journeys at his own pace, working through the loss and disconnections in his life. The door is now open to healing and acceptance. Ben and other staff continue to bring a tender and compassionate presence in his life, aimed at strengthening his spiritual wellbeing.If you are a Baptcare client and looking for spiritual support, consider contacting our Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Team member on your site or through your regular Baptcare staff contact. We are here to listen.Our support is confidential, personalised and designed for people of all backgrounds and beliefs. Talk to us today.*Names and image have been changed to protect privacy.
- 18 Jul 2022
-
The Orchards Retirement Living Community wins Australian Achiever Award
Baptcare is delighted to announce that The Orchards Retirement Living Community has won an Australian Achiever Award, taking out the title of Victorian State Winner for Excellence in Customer Service in Care, Disability and Retirement Services.The Australian Achiever Awards have recognised and rewarded excellence in customer service across Australian businesses for more than two decades. The Awards are scored on feedback from clients relating to a range of customer service values, including:Timely response – across all phone calls, appointments and service deliveryAttending to client needs – ensuring our customers are consistently getting what they wantCare and attention – our commitment to dealing with our customers with the highest levels of careValue for money – consistently delivering a high standard of service relative to costAttitude – our politeness, friendliness and positive approach to handling problemsCommunication – always showing clarity and courtesyReferral – our ability to attract ‘word of mouth’ recommendationsOverall perceptions – across consistency of customer service, the standard of our work and our presentation.In assessing nominations for the award, Baptcare scored a tremendous 94.03 percent for customer service at The Orchards Retirement Living. Particular strengths were noted in our approach to communication, keeping our residents happy, professionalism, looking after our residents and following up on issues.Baptcare staff specifically acknowledged for their remarkable levels of customer service include Hannah Horsley, Aggie Massarotti and Marcus Kirkright.“We are very well looked after by both Aggie and Hannah,” said one resident. “We can go to them with any questions and they follow up on them promptly. The maintenance man Marcus is wonderful. He does all the cleaning and gardening and is prompt to follow up on any maintenance issues.”Well done team! We are so proud of all the wonderful staff at The Orchards who have contributed to winning this award. Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication.To our lovely residents at The Orchards Retirement Living – we are delighted to provide you with a vibrant community where you can continue living independently, while enjoying access to facilities and services designed with your needs in mind.Thank you for choosing The Orchards Retirement Living as your retirement living community.
- 12 Jul 2022
-
What is the difference between an asylum seeker and a refugee?
What is a person seeking asylum?A person seeking asylum is someone who has fled their own country to seek international protection as a refugee.Reasons why a person may leave their own country include persecution, a fear of violence and/or human rights violations. Everyone’s story is different.A person seeking asylum asks for protection while their claim for refugee status is being assessed.What is a refugee?A refugee is a person whose request for asylum has been successful. Consequently, their status has changed from person seeking asylum to refugee. To be granted refugee status, a person must pass a rigorous process. Under the Refugee Convention, the assessment of refugee status focusses on whether a person has a well-founded fear of being persecuted on grounds of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular group, or political opinion. Where this does not apply, refugee status won’t be granted. However a person can be granted ‘complementary protection’ if their human rights are likely to be violated – for example through war or torture – in their country of origin.Once granted refugee status, that person is entitled to protection and assistance.How is an economic migrant different to an asylum seeker/refugee?You may have heard the term ‘economic migrant’. This refers to someone who has left their country to seek a better life through improved financial or economic circumstances. (Their reasons may include accessing better job opportunities and/or improved pay).As economic migrants leave their country for financial and economic reasons (rather than fleeing persecution) they are not entitled to receive international protection as asylum seekers/refugees.What benefits do people seeking asylum receive from the Australian government?Not everybody seeking asylum is eligible for government support. Those who are eligible receive basic income support, capped to a maximum of 89% of the Jobseeker payment.Access to Medicare is broadly dependent on the type of visa held by the person seeking asylum and the conditions of that visa. Visa conditions themselves often change during the application process, creating greater uncertainty. Consequently, many people seeking asylum face problems accessing health services and prescription medicine.Baptcare and other community service providers support eligible people seeking asylum with access to housing, basic health and social services. We recognise that these are some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in our community.Are asylum seekers allowed to work?A person seeking asylum’s right to work and earn income depends on the type of bridging visa they hold, the conditions of that visa, and the progress of their case.Would you like to learn more about how Baptcare supports people seeking asylum?Click on the link to read more about our Baptcare Sanctuary program.If you’d like to get involved and help with donations, employment or volunteering, contact our friendly Sanctuary team at sanctuary@baptcare.org.au
- 23 Jun 2022
-
Innovating to keep power bills down in new housing project
“This is absolutely ground-breaking work that is going on here,” Minister Wynne said. “It is world-leading in terms of efficiency. For the families that are going to be living here…the utility bills will be maybe 20% of average bills. In some instances it may be a situation where residents are paying no utility bills at all.“This is quite amazing (work by) our friends from Baptcare Affordable Housing…pushing the boundaries in terms of thermal efficiency.”Ms Suleyman described the BAH development as “a game changer” and an important innovation in the social and affordable housing sector.The development will provide housing support for larger families, sole parents, financially disadvantaged people, people experiencing family or domestic violence, and older Victorians who meet the criteria for social/affordable housing. All homes will be completed by November 2022.The eight homes being built to full Passivhaus standards including airtightness, thermal insulation, ventilation, use of high-performance windows and doors and thermal bridge-free construction. The other 12 homes will be built to a 7-star energy rating and aim to achieve a minimum of gold standard of the Liveable Housing Australia for accessibility to and within the property.This project has been funded through the Building Works Package, with the Victorian Government contributing $7 million to the $11.5 million development.
- 16 Jun 2022
-
Mosaic churches team up to support Houses of Hope
The Baptist churches of West Preston, Ivanhoe, Rosanna and Regent have been meeting for some time, exploring the Baptist Union of Victoria (BUV) slogan Together on Mission. “This is an ongoing conversation to imagine what a potential partnership can look like, which has been enthusiastically taken up by all four congregations,” says Rev Gayle Hill, Head of the Mission Catalyst Team at BUV.“They have come together under the name of Mosaic, reflecting that they remain individual churches but are embracing the partnership paradigm. Part of the conversation has been around what sort of missional initiatives each of the churches has been undertaking, and what opportunities there are to support each other.”West Preston Baptist Church has had a long involvement in supporting people seeking asylum through Baptcare’s Sanctuary program. This congregation has led the drive of the Mosaic churches to support Houses of Hope. After a joint service, each congregation pledged an amount to put towards renting houses for the project through the auspices of Baptcare. The Mosaic churches are now supporting three Houses of Hope, with aspirations for a fourth.“We decided to do some fundraising and kicked off an initiative amongst the four churches in our area,” says Tony Williams of West Preston Baptist Church. “We advertised the need amongst the churches, and got enough pledges to provide funds to Baptcare for the rental of almost three two-bedroom units for a minimum of two years. The people who pledged could visualise who the people are who are affected, and that personal connection with asylum seekers drove the response.”“I think there is a great opportunity for other churches to consider this model,” Gayle says. “Although a single church might feel it is beyond it financially, when several churches collaborate it can be achieved, especially through partnership with Baptcare. Joining together enables them to flourish, as well as giving an opportunity for the most vulnerable people in society to flourish.”The Bible has numerous references to showing love for strangers. (For example, Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.) When the scripture says that God’s face can be seen in the face of the stranger, it means that God’s face can be seen in the face of the person seeking asylum, and the refugee. This underpins the love and support that is flowing from the Mosaic churches, and the other congregations and individuals supporting Houses of Hope. It is an alignment of mission between Baptcare, Baptist churches and the BUV Support Hub with one aim: supporting people in acute need.*You can donate today to make a difference for people seeking asylum.
- 16 Jun 2022
