What is the most rewarding thing about being a carer?
To me, the most rewarding thing about being a Carer is the laughs and the friendships I have made. My clients are like family to me. Some days I remind myself that to be trusted with someone’s care outweighs the struggles I have and that gives me balance. I love being a carer.
I have some wonderful clients, many of them I have been with for a long time. One special client I have had for over four years, and a few others I’ve also spent years with.
I started work with palliative care patients and did that for around 5 years. I’ve also looked after family members, as my clients for around 4 years.
What’s the most unusual question you’ve been asked at work?
Can I cook real food, not something out of a can or tin! Haha, lucky I enjoy cooking.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was young, I wanted to be a mother craft nurse, that’s what they were called in the 60’s and 70’s. But being from an Italian family and the fact I had to go live away from home in Liverpool Sydney to become a mothercraft nurse, there was no way I was allowed to follow my dream.
How you relax/what do you like to do to chill out?
I love going to the Dandenong’s, enjoying the fresh air and the gardens, the waterfalls. And I love having my granddaughters. They bring me so much joy.
I enjoyed going through my photos and remembering a trip to Italy with my brother who is very dear to me. We went to the house I was born in, and he took me down memory lane – that’s what older brothers do.
Who would be your ideal dinner guest?
My ideal guest would be my husband because I miss him dreadfully. He passed away 30 years ago. This was the reason I became a caregiver.
Do you have any unusual hobbies?
No unusual hobbies – I just love to teach my 4-year-old granddaughter to cook.