“It’s all joy”: Care worker loves to help vulnerable people relive their lives

image_6483441 (1)
Barbara had a knack for caring for others, having nursed her ill mother, and said her job unlocked a deep passion, one that gave her a new sense of fulfilment. [Source: Home Care Nurses Australia]

In light of National Carers Week (October 15-21), it is a timely reminder that some of the most rewarding careers aren’t the ones with fancy titles, but the ones that match our innate passions and desire to make a difference.

Barbara Solace Nyarkoh, 32, served as a civil servant at one of the Government agencies in her home country of Ghana before her husband was accepted to pursue a PhD in Australia.

Once the mother of three arrived in Queensland in March 2022, she struggled to find work until she gained employment as a support worker at Home Care Nurses Australia.

She always had a knack for caring for others, having nursed her ill mother, she said the job unlocked a deep passion, one that gave her a new sense of fulfilment.

“It was heartwarming when a client thanked me after my shift for the work I did for her.” 

 Mrs Nyarkoh said her job gives her the opportunity to help people relive their lives. 

She said, “It is encouraging to know that the aged care industry is one of the most important sectors of the Australian economy, impacting lives in many positive ways.”

Despite aged care acquiring a huge portion of our Federal Budget, Mrs Nyarkoh would like to see changes to temporary visas to give migrant workers more stability while they contribute to the care sector. 

The fickle nature of the temporary visa scheme saw the creation of the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement, which aimed to improve the recruitment of qualified direct care workers from overseas to work in the sector – which includes a two-year pathway to permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme.

“For care workers on temporary visas, it would be good if care workers are given special privileges to apply for permanent residency,” Mrs Nyarkoh explained.

But for anyone considering a career in aged care, Mrs Nyarkoh recommends they get in touch with their human instincts and common sense “in order to provide good care to the clients.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Should Residents Sit in on Interviews When Hiring Aged Care Staff?

Working in aged care is not for everyone. It takes a special kind of person to care for the elderly. Personality can also play a big role – sometimes the person with the most knowledge is not necessarily the best fit for the job. There is often a question of “quality of carers” who are... Read More

Healthcare workers face harsh penalties for spouting anti-coronavirus vaccine claims

“There is no place for anti-vaccination messages in professional health practice, and any promotion of anti-vaccination claims including on social media, and advertising may be subject to regulatory action,” a spokesman for the medical boards and Pharmacy Board chairman Brett Simmonds said. Read More

Poor ventilation may be adding to nursing homes’ COVID-19 risks

By Geoff Hanmer and Bruce Milthorpe, University of Technology Sydney Over 2,000 active cases of COVID-19 and 245 resident deaths as of August 19 have been linked to aged care homes in Victoria, spread across over 120 facilities. The St Basil’s cluster alone now involves 191 cases. In New South Wales, 37 residents were infected at... Read More
Advertisement