Manju’s Story: Celebrating Aged Care Employees Day
Meet Manju Thomas, Director of Care Services at Whiddon Easton Park
1 August 2023
From a young age, Manju always envisioned herself working in the aged care industry. After joining Whiddon 4 years ago as a Service Manager she quickly progressed into a Director of Care Services. In her role as Director of Care Services at Whiddon Easton Park, Manju plays a vital role in the journey of residents under her care, guiding them from the day they enter the facility to the day they leave her care.
“The strong and meaningful connections that you make with the people in your care along with their close family and friends give you a sense of purpose. The most important thing for me is making a positive difference in someone's life.” explains Manju.
Manju values the opportunity to help others in any way she can and was initially drawn to the excellent reputation of Whiddon and was encouraged by a former manager to seek an opportunity at Whiddon Easton Park.
Drawing from her own rewarding experiences, Manju believes delivering quality care is all about making a genuine positive impact in someone's life.
“There are moments every day that make me proud to be a part of the industry. I am proud of the of team I work with who make a positive impact on residents' lives, fostering an enriching and fulfilling work environment”
Manju takes pride in being part of a team that shares a mission to make a difference in the lives of senior Australians. Establishing strong and meaningful connections with residents and their families, the team fosters a supportive and compassionate atmosphere. Manju feels fortunate to be a part of a dedicated team.
From meeting new people as they come into her care to helping them in any way they need, Manju feels getting to know the residents on a deeper level allows her to deliver better care for each individual.
To anyone looking to explore a career in aged care Manju says, “come on in, it’s extremely rewarding and you won’t regret it!"
In the lead-up to Aged Care Employees Day (August 7), Whiddon is proudly sharing stories of exceptional team members to say #ThanksforCaring. Aged Care Employee Day honours the more than 427,000 residential care, home care and retirement living staff who care for 1.5 million older Australians every single day. From direct care workers to the extended allied workforce, Aged Care Employees Day highlights and celebrates the many different roles of those involved in the aged care journey.
About Aged Care Employees (ACE) Day
- Aged Care Employee Day (ACE Day) takes place on August 7 of every year and celebrates the diverse workforce providing quality care to seniors.
- The day, now championed by the Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA), represents more than 427,000 residential care, home care and retirement living staff who care for 1.5 million older Australian’s each day.
- Aged Care Employee Day was announced in 2018 by Australian not-for-profit care provider, Whiddon, as a day to celebrate all workers involved in the journey of caring for people who receive aged care services.
- From direct care workers to the extended allied workforce, Aged Care Employees Day highlights and celebrates the many different roles of those involved in the aged care journey.
- Whiddon initiated Aged Care Employee Day after observing that existing days which celebrate certain parts of the workforce, such as International Nurses Day, were not sufficient to recognise the united efforts of the aged care workforce in delivering care services.
- In 2019, Aged Care Employee Day was recognised as a national event.
About Whiddon
Whiddon is an award-winning care provider with residential care, community care and retirement villages across metropolitan, regional, rural, and remote New South Wales and Southeast Queensland.
Whiddon has been providing exceptional care to older Australians and people with disabilities for more than 75 years, and has grown to be an industry-leading, not-for-profit aged care organisation caring for close to 3,000 customers with over 2,500 employees.
Whiddon is passionate about enriching lives and keeping older people connected to what matters most to them in life. The organisation aims to really understand each person through building deep relationships with them, their family, and their community.
Whiddon proudly partners with academics and universities that are developing the latest thinking, innovation, programs, and training around quality of life and ageing.
