ParentsNext supports Jaime to care for her Biripi community

Jaime spent 16 years as a stay-at-home Mum, raising her five children. With the support of our team in Taree who deliver services for the federal government initiative ParentsNext, Jaime, a proud Biripi woman, is now working at a local aged care centre.

“They asked when I wanted to start and suggested Tuesday,” Jaime says.

“I said, ‘How about Monday?’ I was so pleased to get the job, and I’m just loving it.”

“The old people that I am dealing with are family to me, and so it means a lot to be working there with them,” she says.

“I go and see the old residents, check on them and see about their wellbeing. I clean for them. I also do social support, sit there and have a yarn, see how they’ve been going. Especially with Covid, it is very important to be checking with them and looking after them.”

With the support of ParentsNext, Jaime has enrolled to undertake a Certificate III in Aged Care. Her duties will expand to personal aged care, including showering.

“ParentsNext helped me with a Wage Subsidy for six months, and now they have helped me start to get my qualification.

“I used to meet with my Support Mentor once a month, then when Covid started, they would ring me and check that I was okay and find out if anything had changed.

“My goal was to get a job because things are better when you are working. I have been at home for 16 years, and there is always a lot to do there, but now I am employed and helping make a difference for the old people. There is still a lot of work to do when I come home at night, but I’m loving it.”