News and views from our community

Sam makes every role a winner

Great people make a contribution whatever their role in an organisation.Sam Horde is currently Volunteer and Lifestyle Coordinator at Baptcare’s Peninsula View aged care community. She has been with Baptcare since 2010, but hasn’t been pigeon-holed in any one position.“I was recruited to work in Accounts Payable,” Sam says. “From there I moved to different roles in Facilities & Supply, before I applied for the role of Executive Assistant to the General Manager of Aged Care and Family & Community Services.“It was great being at central office, seeing the way the organisation worked and all the ways the different parts of Baptcare operated together.”She took time away to give birth to her second daughter, but her skills were not forgotten. “They asked me if I would like to come back and offered me a role at Peninsula View, and it’s great to be here.“The best part of my job is fulfilling residents’ lives. Making them smile means a lot, but so does providing reassurance to families that their loved ones are being cared for.”As she pats Peninsula View’s beloved therapy dog BooBoo, Sam lists some of the lifestyle activities she oversees: balloon volleyball, carpet bowls, Happy Hour, arts and crafts, men’s group, gardening, chair exercise, Zumba, concerts, therapy animals – and of course bingo.Originally a hairdresser, Sam worked in insurance during the 18 years she lived in the United States. She has convinced her American husband that the Peninsula lifestyle is even better than San Francisco, which is good news for Baptcare.“I love it here,” she says. “My manager is approachable, we are a great team, and everyone cares.“It has been super-easy and fully supported for me to change roles within the organisation. I have now almost finished my Certificate IV in Leisure and Health, and who knows where my Baptcare career will go next.”“Sam is really dedicated, and she has built a great team,” says Peninsula View Residential Care & Services Manager Adam Jochim. “She is always doing early research into dementia and other issues and presenting ideas about better ways we can work. Everything she does is for the betterment of our residents.”Do you want to be part of Baptcare’s outstanding workforce? Read more here!

• 25 Jul 2023

Social versus affordable housing – an explainer

What is the difference between ‘social’ and ‘affordable’ housing?Many people use these terms interchangeably – but they are two different things.Social housing refers to government-subsidised short- and long-term rentals. Two types of social housing are ‘public housing’ which is owned by the government and ‘community housing’ which is managed and sometimes owned by not-for-profit organisations. Social housing rents are calculated based on income – typically 30 percent of a renter’s income – and target people on lower incomes or benefits.On the other hand, affordable housing refers to housing options which are available at a rent or price lower than the local market rate. Affordable housing is considered to be accessible for those on low or moderate incomes. Rents are based on market rates – typically 25 percent less than what the market is charging for similar housing.Ten years ago, Baptcare launched a subsidiary, Baptcare Affordable Housing (BAH), providing well-located and well-built social housing for people on lower incomes who are at risk of, or are experiencing, homelessness.To read more about our affordable housing projects, click the link below:https://www.baptcare.org.au/services/housing/affordable-housing

• 24 Jul 2023

From the laundry to the front office

Adam Jochim, Residential Care & Services Manager at Baptcare Peninsula View residential aged care community, is not usually short of words. However, when asked to describe the impact of office manager Suzanne Lewry, he takes a moment.“Suzanne is just wonderful,” he says eventually. “She is open, understanding and a pillar of support.“The other thing is that she is so incredibly fast to get her head around any changes to procedure, computer programs or staff. We are lucky to have her.”Suzanne’s connection with Peninsula View goes back to a time before it was a Baptcare community. She started working at the facility in 2008, and stayed on when Baptcare took over in 2013.“My background had been in admin but I was out of the workforce until the youngest of my three kids commenced school,” Suzanne remembers.“I wanted a job, and a position was going here as a casual cleaner. I then became a laundry assistant for a couple of years, moved into lifestyle team then worked as Laundry Manager, and then when an opportunity came to return to administration, I jumped at that.“As office manager I oversee all admin tasks including rostering, recruitment, looking after new starters and overseeing visiting.“I think it’s important to know what everyone has to do in their role, and what the challenges are. Having worked in so many different roles I know what it’s like for my colleagues, and that understanding really helps.”Suzanne was born and raised in the area and loves working with the older people of the Peninsula. When she is away from work she is relishing her new role as a grandmother to one grandchild (with another on the way soon).“I feel a strong attachment to all of our residents. Their faces light up when they see you.“I look around Peninsula View and see my colleagues making an important difference in people’s lives. It makes me proud to be working with Baptcare.”

• 20 Jul 2023

The benefits of pet therapy in aged care settings

Those of us with a love for pets know all too well the joy they bring into our lives. Benefits include improved physical, emotional and social well-being as we connect and bond with our pets, take care of their needs and receive their unconditional love in return.People moving into an aged care community may not always have the ability to look after their own pet on site. They can, however, still look forward to interacting with pets through visiting programs or animal assisted therapy sessions.At many of our aged communities, Baptcare is pleased to offer both formal therapy sessions and more informal pet visits. Our Karana community, in Kew, has a resident cat, Miss Mona, along with visits from Morris, the pet therapy dog and an assortment of dogs living with our residents’ families who pop in for a visit each Thursday.Ann Marie Harli, Lifestyle Coordinator at Karana, has seen first-hand the benefits experienced by residents interacting with pets. “The feedback has been amazing,” says Ann Marie. “The comments from our residents about Miss Mona the cat shows how much joy and connection she brings to their lives.”Here’s just a few of the many adoring comment on Miss Mona from our Karana community:“I pat her and she is lovely, she’s so soft and doesn’t hurt anyone.”“I like trying to read her mind when she is telling you something.”“I really enjoy seeing the residents when she jumps on their trolleys and sits there for a ride.”“I love the way she comes into activities to be part of the group.”“Seeing a cat asleep on a chair feels like home.”Says Ann Marie, “I have a great deal of faith in the pet therapy program here at Karana and would like to encourage others to consider this type of program, too.”What is animal assisted therapy?Animal assisted therapy, or pet therapy, is a guided treatment session designed to support individual health goals – physical, mental and social. Animal assisted therapy is not just limited to supporting people in aged care. It can have broader applications, including emotional and behavioural problems in children, addiction and autism to name just a few.Research shows that animal assisted therapy can improve the physical and emotional health of older people living in aged care communities. Benefits for residents include:Reduced loneliness and isolation: through providing companionship and unconditional love.Reduced stress and anxiety: connecting with pets can be a calming experience, providing a distraction from negative thoughts and feelings.Increased physical activity: pet therapy can encourage people to get up and move around to better interact with their chosen animal.Improved cognitive function: being around animals can stimulate people’s minds about their experiences owning pets, assisting with memory recall.Enhanced social interaction: when pet therapy is done in a group context, it can help bring people together and encourage them to interact with one another.Specific benefits for elderly people living with dementiaIn addition to these general benefits which can be enjoyed by aged care residents, elderly people living with dementia can enjoy specific effects. These include:Reduced agitation and aggression: petting an animal can be quite soothing, allowing someone with dementia to feel comforted by the experience, reducing tension.Improved communication: animals can help stimulate memories and conversation – or even just smiling, laughing and eye contact for those who have lost the ability to speak.Enhanced memory and recall: interacting with animals can help trigger memories and associations for people experiencing memory loss.Increased motivation and engagement: regular pet therapy sessions can give people something to look forward to and help them stay involved in their surroundings.Who benefits most from animal assisted therapy – and who might notAnimal assisted therapy is best targeted at those who enjoy positive memories with animals and pets. It is not suited to those with animal allergies or for those with immune issues unless strict infection control procedures are in place.Pet therapy is a wonderful way to improve the quality of life for elderly people in aged care. When properly targeted, it can be a valuable tool to help make aged care residents feel more at home and relaxed.Baptcare is delighted to provide our aged care residents with guided pet visits through our vibrant lifestyle programs. These programs are designed to create stimulating activities and experiences tailored to our residents’ needs, cultural backgrounds and abilities. To learn more about our residential aged care communities click here.

• 17 Jul 2023

• Faces of Baptcare

Faces of Baptcare #48 | Meet Richard Woodall

Meet Richard Woodall, Financial Controller at Baptcare and a much-loved member of his team. “He’s a thoughtful and considered individual and a joy to work with,” comments Corporate Finance Manager, Alejandra Salgado. These sentiments are echoed by Louise Milligan, Senior Accounts Receivable Officer. “Richard is an excellent leader, who is very approachable and builds positive relationships within the finance team. He is always supportive of the team to work creatively and confidently towards Baptcare’ s shared vision.” Other team members spoke of his calm, steady influence and that trademark wicked sense of humour. You can read more about Richard below.What is your current role and what does it involve day to day?I’m the financial controller at Baptcare. We look after the billing for our customers, paying our suppliers and paying our 4,000 amazing staff.How long have you been working at Baptcare? Four-and-a-half years.What do you like about your job? Working in my role, I get to see all across Baptcare. We work in so many fantastic places. While finance provides support in the background, I love being a part of the different things we do. This can vary from helping with a bid for grant funding, working through budgets for a new property development or trying to understand AN-ACC (Australian National Aged Care Classification).Can you share a particularly special work day you’ve had recently?We’ve been working closely with the Victorian Government over the past two years in the social housing space and we’ve had some great victories in securing new homes for those in need. While the number of extra homes are only a drop in the ocean compared to the need across Australia, each new home we can provide is life changing for those residents. Hearing the stories of the new residents at our Sunshine development were very touching and make all the red tape and government negotiations worthwhile, even if it gets us just one more home.Did you always want to work within the financial space. What are some other jobs you’ve performed in your career?Sadly yes, I was the kid in grade three in love with his new calculator eagerly looking forward to being an accountant. There was a brief time I was certain I’d play full forward for Melbourne but my passion for spreadsheets won out. I’ve been in accounting since I was 18 so have worked in tax, audit and the commercial space, but I also enjoy getting out of the office on different projects and have stepped in to drive delivery trucks and helped new product launches. I had to do a sock audit at Myer once. I’m usually up for anything.Can you tell us something surprising about yourself? I have five kids, all boys, aged between three and 13. That usually surprises most people, and if it doesn’t, I get a few raised eyebrows when I tell them how we go through 15 litres of milk each week, about seven kilos of apples a week and one-two loaves of bread a day. I’m basically raising horses really.We hear that you are planning on involving your kids in some volunteer work? How on earth have you managed to pry them away from screens to do this? (I’m sure our readers would love to hear some parenting tips!).Our kinder started a program shortly after Covid where once a month they would get to spend time with residents at the local aged care facility and it was fantastic. I also did the Duke of Edinburgh Award program as a teen and loved it, which included volunteering at Hedley Sutton. Putting these two together I thought we’d slowly introduce my kids to volunteering with Baptcare. I’ve completed my onboarding and I’m looking forward to visiting The Orchards later this month.What’s the latest book you’ve read or series you’ve watched?I’m a terrible reader, but I catch the train to work so have smashed out plenty of audio books through the free (I’m an accountant, remember) Libby app. I’m currently working my way through the Tom Clancy series. Jack Ryan and I have saved the world a few times now, we’re a great team.Do you have a favourite quote or motto in life?Treat others how you’d like them to treat you.How would your friends describe you?They would say I’m pretty relaxed. With a full house, you just roll with the punches. They’d also say I’ve got a wicked/sarcastic sense of humour, but I make sure I dial this down during work hours.If you could sit next to someone at a dinner party, who would it be and whyI love my sport, so someone like a Glen McGrath or Allen Jakovich who could chat sport for hours would be fun. Jesus was a great conversationalist and is an even better role model. That would be a dinner to remember.

• 12 Jul 2023

• Faces of Baptcare

Faces of Baptcare #47 | Meet Adam Jochim

Adam Jochim is a much-treasured member of our community, particularly his Peninsula View family where he currently works as the Residential Care and Services Manager. When we asked his colleagues for some words about Adam they agreed that “he is approachable, not intimidating despite his seniority, a good listener and understanding of the personal circumstances of the staff he works alongside.” You can read more about the wonderful Adam below.What is your current role and what does it involve day to day? I am the Residential Care and Services Manager (RCSM) at Baptcare’s Peninsula View. This role is very diverse and that is why it is so attractive to me. Aged care managers have a great opportunity and responsibility to influence the workings of aged care homes. I see my role as being a leader and mentor with the larger part of the role dedicated to staff and resident liaison/support, as well as all things related to governance and standards of care. I feel personally responsible for Peninsula View Community including how it is perceived by all stakeholders and the close community itself.How long have you been working within the Aged Care team at Baptcare? I will celebrate five years at the end of this month. My first four years were spent with our Karana community.What do you like about working with Baptcare? Since my commencement with Baptcare I often find myself so positively surprised with the quality and calibre of people we have in the business. I truly believe that Baptcare’s values and mission by default attract good people. I love the spiritual and holistic aspect of Baptcare and I feel very aligned with - and proudly represent - what Baptcare stands for.Can you share a particularly special customer interaction you’ve had recently?In recent months we cared for a person with whom I have worked at another aged care home for over nine years. It was rather surreal and very emotional for me to accept a new ‘relationship’ with this person, but I felt privileged to be able to assist her in her difficult journey knowing that the service we provide, and the staff we employ, are superbly caring and kind. Such moments give me more energy and drive.Did you always want to work within the caring space and what are some other jobs you’ve performed in your career?I have been a nurse since 1990 and I never imagined myself working in aged care, but life leads us on different - and not always planed – paths. For me, the aged care journey started in a small nursing home in Hawthorn in 1994 and I loved it from day one.What did you want to be when you grew up? My early dream was to become a vet and then a surgeon - luckily these dreams never eventuated.Can you tell us something surprising about yourself? People may be surprised to find out that I like to watch UFC Mixed Martial Arts! I still do not know why I’m attracted to watching this considering my gentle attitude to life.We’ve heard that you’re a baker in your spare time. Can you tell us what inspired this hobby?Yes! Three years ago, my friend gave me a jar of culture (bread starter) and since that time I have mastered a good recipe of rye bread and I bake bread twice a week. I love the smell of dough and freshly baked bread. Bread baking is great as you can share this simple food with others.We’ve also heard that you’re a keen water sports fan – in particular, windsurfing? Yes, I have been windsurfing since 1987 when I first watched this sport in action. My first windsurfing board was a DIY kit. Windsurfing is my passion and windy days can be restless for me if I cannot go out on the water.Do you have a favourite quote or motto in life? I do not have any specific quotes that I live by, but I try to read the Bible and get my inspiration from there. The Wisdom of Sirach is my go-to part as it provides clear and simple messages on how to perform good deeds in the world.How would your friends describe you?I feel that my friends would see me as happy and easy going. I am rather solitary in my life. I am most comfortable and happy in the company of my wife and children.Do you have a mentor or idol? Not really, and the older I get the more selective and cautious I become in such areas. Recently I have been following/listening to the scientist John Lennox who, in my opinion, has great views on today’s world and its complexities.Who would you like to sit next to at a dinner party?I would like to be at any dinner party where the Branford Marsalis Quartet is playing. I find them to be the best jazz group ever.

• 06 Jul 2023

• Faces of Baptcare

Faces of Baptcare #46 | Meet Vince Ferraro

One of the first things you notice about Vince is his easy smile and twinkly eyes. He is obviously a real people-person.“Vince is a classic,” says Hannah Horsley, Retirement Living Manager at the Orchards. “He brings a lot of fun and joy into the community, joking around with the residents and always making them laugh.“Nothing is too much trouble with Vince. He has a heart of gold and is a very valuable and treasured member of our team.” We asked Vince about his eight-year career. What is your current role and what does it involve day to day?My current role is bus driver/activities person/maintenance. My day involves lots of things such as taking residents from either the Residential Aged Community (RAC) or Retirement Living (RL) on outings or shopping, playing a game of quoits with the residents in the RAC (which they thoroughly enjoy!) and helping with lunches. Of late I have also been helping out in the RL maintenance space, which has been a great change of scenery for me, and I love working with the RL team. What do you like about working with Baptcare? I enjoy seeing the look of happiness on residents faces when we go out on bus trips and knowing that I bring a lot of joy to them, especially when we go out for lunch. Can you share a particularly special workday/customer interaction you’ve had recently?Every time I take residents out from the RAC on a bus trip, they have been so thankful and appreciative that they are going out. It’s so rewarding to see their happy faces and how thankful the residents’ families are seeing their loved ones go out. There’s a saying that if you want to get a teenager to chat, put them in a car and drive! That the movement and the lack of eye contact encourages relaxation. Do you notice anything about the mood of the residents when they get in the bus?The residents are so happy and reminisce about their childhoods and where they used to live, it encourages a lot of conversation about how much things have changed and talking about the places they used to holiday with their families. How did you start working in Aged Care/Retirement Living?One day when I was visiting my mother-in-law, Hannah (Horsley Retirement Living Manager, The Orchards) asked me whether I would like to fill in as a bus driver until Hannah could find someone more permanent. Hannah promised it would only be for a couple of weeks and mind you I already had two other jobs! Somehow it is now nearly eight years later and every time I see Hannah, I ask her “Have you found someone to drive the bus yet?”How do you find having your mother-in-law in your workplace? She is pretty easy going, all I have to do is take her to any op shop and I become her favourite son in law!What did you want to be when you grew up?I wanted to be a plumber and now I help my son who is a plumber which gives me a lot of joy. Can you tell us two surprising things about yourself?I came to Australia from Italy at five years old and couldn’t speak a word of English and I am one of nine children.What do you like to watch in your spare time?I don’t watch the news or read the paper, to me it is all bad news. I do enjoy a good action film.What’s your favourite action movie?The Godfather 1 and 2Do you have a favourite quote or motto in life?We try to do the best in our lives, however in the end “what will be will be.”How would your friends describe you? Funny, never to take me too seriously and very loyal.If you could sit next to someone at a dinner party, who would it be and why? I would love to sit next to Mick Jagger and the other members of the Rolling Stones.What’s your favourite Rolling Stones song and what would you ask them?Song - ‘Start me up.’ I’d like to ask Mick if Tina Turner taught him how to dance.Thanks to Vince for ‘starting up’ so much fun and warmth in our community. We’re so grateful Hannah discovered you all those years ago.If you’d like to learn more about Baptcare’s retirement living communities, please visit https://theorchardsliving.com.au or call 0439 410 207. To read more about The Orchards Residential Aged Care community please visit https://www.baptcare.org.au/services/aged-care-homes/residential-aged-care-homes/baptcare-the-orchards-community

• 29 Jun 2023

Meet Swinburne Digital Story Program volunteer, Natalie Alexander

Benjamin Franklin once said, ‘If you want something done, give it to a busy person’. This saying applies to the Swinburne Digital Story Program Aged Care volunteer, Natalie Alexander.In addition to a busy family life (three children aged from 9-14), Natalie is currently completing her fourth year of a Monash University psychology pathway. Natalie is hoping to be practising psychology in the child/adolescent space after her Master’s program.Natalie is also an active volunteer with various organisations, including the Swinburne Digital Story Program Aged Care project at Baptcare’s Hedley Sutton community.How long have you been volunteering with the Swinburne Digital Story Program Aged Care project?I started in January this year.Have you done any other volunteering?I’ve always done volunteering. Currently, I’m an active volunteer in schools, Raise Youth Mentoring program, Very Special Kids and of course the Swinburne Digital Story program. I like to volunteer in a variety of spaces to learn more about those worlds. I believe that this breadth of experience will help me in my career.How did you get involved in the Swinburne Digital Story project?I follow Swinburne on social media, saw an ad for the Digital Story program and got in touch with Rebecca Collins, the program Director.What drew you to the project?I thought it sounded wonderful to spend time with someone who is perhaps a bit lonely, and just provide them some company. The physical memento of the four-minute digital story after the program will hopefully not only be enjoyed by the resident, but also be useful do the aged care employees. I hope the digital story program will help the staff understand the resident being profiled a bit better, help the everyday conversation and ultimately, the quality of the resident’s life.It’s also lovely to be able to leave a gift for the resident that hopefully enhances their wellbeing.Whose digital story are you covering?Barbara, a resident from Hedley Sutton.What do you enjoy about volunteering with the Swinburne Digital Story Program in Aged Care?It’s a rewarding process to invest time in something worthwhile that will hopefully deliver some positive outcomes and joy.Residents have fascinating stories. They don’t think they’ve got much to tell until someone gives them the time and space to talk.It has also provided me with some invaluable training, and I now have skills that I can use in the future.Why do you do volunteering?I like giving back to my community. And I believe the world is a little bit nicer if we go out of our way for someone else. I really enjoy volunteering and It’s fulfilling to think you can bring some joy into someone’s life.Hopefully I can brighten Barbara’s day and give her someone to talk with. I also feel quite privileged to get to hear someone else’s life story.Selfishly, I also think it’s helpful for me to be amongst other age groups. It helps me understand more about people and this will help me in my daily life as well as my study. And lastly, I find that volunteering can help put your own little problems in perspective.How would you describe the process of creating a digital story?Firstly, you learn a lot with the program, such as good conversation starters, about feeling comfortable sitting in silence, and mostly how to be around older adults. We then use these skills to reminisce with the resident and find out more about them, with the aim of turning what we have learnt into a short digital story. Rebecca from Swinburne is very supportive and always is ready to help if needed.It has been lovely to see Hedley staff treat the residents with such friendliness and respect. I was walking recently with Barbara to the Hedley café and it was like walking with a celebrity – all the staff calling out ‘Hello’ to Barbara. I have been impressed by the Hedley staff, they are so friendly.If someone was thinking about trying out volunteering, what would you say?I’d encourage people to do volunteering if they can. It’s a great experience, you gain as much as you give.If you’re interested in joining our vibrant volunteering community, please email us on volunteer@baptcare.org.au

• 26 Jun 2023

Australian-first energy efficient social housing project opens in Sunshine

Our ground-breaking affordable housing project in Sunshine is complete. This is a Baptcare Affordable Housing (BAH) pilot project in environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.The 20 new residences include eight PassivHauses. This is the first PassivHaus-designed social/affordable housing in Australia.We have invested more capital into building these houses because we believe that, in the long-term, their efficiency will alleviate financial pressures for residents.Soaring energy prices are a huge burden for many renters, so we have designed and built our extremely energy-efficient housing to reduce the pressure of high power bills.“We are proud of this innovative project and believe it will be a game-changer for renters battling high energy costs,” said Baptcare Chief Executive Officer Geraldine Lannon.“We look forward to seeing what impact the PassivHauses have for people living in them, in terms of health, financial and social outcomes. This is a bold step forward in social and affordable housing, and we anticipate great outcomes for the families, couples and individuals living in these homes.“Baptcare is dedicated to finding better ways to work with our customers. We believe that second-best is not good enough. We want to be leaders in creating best outcomes for and with our customers,” Ms Lannon saidThe completed housing project includes two four-bedroom PassivHauses and six two-bedroom PassivHauses. These dwellings meet international PassivHaus standards for airtightness, thermal insulation, ventilation, use of high-performance windows and doors and thermal bridge-free construction.The other twelve dwellings - eight one-bedroom and four two-bedroom homes - are built to seven-star NaTHERS energy rating and aim to achieve a minimum of gold standard of the Liveable Housing Australia for accessibility to and within the property.The development provides 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 of the new residences have been allocated to renters. The new houses are located close to Sunshine shopping centre, services and public transport.“In a cost of living crisis, Baptcare has developed a community in collaboration with Homes Victoria that is truly trying to minimise the ongoing running costs to their tenants,” said James Kelly, Seniors Living & Care Partner, ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects.“We’ve used a simple architectural vernacular tailored to the streetscape. It includes a small, private, family-oriented park at the rear, with landscaping by John Patrick, where residents can connect to nature and each other.“The interiors are functional, quality spaces, with simple joinery and the timber-framed, triple-glazed windows are really quite beautiful objects in their own right,” Mr Kelly said.BAH will work with Sustainability Victoria and other agencies to study the ongoing impact of building highly energy-efficient social and affordable housing, and what this means for the health, financial and social outcomes for the people living in these dwellings.This project has been funded through the Building Works Package, with the Victorian Government contributing $7 million to the $11.5 million development.Learn more about our PassivHauses here.

• 23 Jun 2023