It's Harmony Week!
Established to celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity, and coinciding with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, this week provides the platform to acknowledge the contributions of multicultural communities to Australian society.
42% of Uniting AgeWell’s employees were born overseas. Our team now includes representation from 363 countries who speak 38 languages. Reflecting our core values of Inclusion this week we will be celebrating the varied journeys and career pathways of just some of our valued employees and we encourage you to read their stories below.
Hirut Wegayehu - Ethiopia
Personal Care Worker
Hirut was raised in Ethiopia, the landlocked country in the horn of Africa most recently in the news for internal armed conflict and human rights abuses.
She was raised in a Christian household in the capital, Addis Ababa, speaking the official language of Amharic.
“Things were tough, not so much in the city but more so in the countryside. Still, my brother and my sister and I all wanted to leave for a better future,” she explains. They toyed between going to the UK, Sweden or Australia – and thankfully chose Down Under.
Magdalena Zynel - Poland
Lifestyle Assistant
With aged care studies under her belt, Magdalena started work at Manor Lakes on a student placement – and the rest is history. Her positive energy, compassion and care won everyone over, she was offered a full-time role, and one day aims to become a Lifestyle Coordinator.
She feels right at home and often laughs that the three-person Manor Lakes Lifestyle Team is a cultural melting pot representing also India and the Philippines.
