Denise Joss has a smile as big as her heart.
Her ready smile and positive attitude were just a couple of the reasons that saw the Uniting AgeWell Home Care Worker receive the organisation’s Excellence Award - Home and Community Tasmania for going above and beyond in making a real difference to her customers.
“Older people have a lot to offer, they have huge wisdom. I learn so much from them, far more than I ever did at school,” Denise says. “I can honestly say that I love what I do.”
Denise also enjoys that no two days are ever the same. “You become a bit of everything as a Home Care Worker in the community,” she explains. “You do personal care, a bit of cleaning, provide social interaction, take clients to the doctor or to the shops, go for walks…”
She should know. Denise has worked with clients in the Hobart-area for nearly 20 years and is still as passionate about assisting older people to live their best lives at home as she was when she first completed her Certificate IV in Aged Care.
Dementia care fascinates her, and Denise has enjoyed the raft of courses she’s completed through Uniting AgeWell some of which include training in dementia, First Aid in Mental Health, a Cert IV in Leisure and Lifestyle – even learning how to drive a community bus to take clients on excursions.
“Uniting AgeWell is a really good place to work, they respect me and train me up to be all that I can,” the mother-of-two says.
International Women’s Day on 8 March is an opportunity for Uniting AgeWell, with women making up over 80% of its workforce, to celebrate the daily impact women make through their work. Inclusion is enshrined in Uniting AgeWell’s DNA with employees of all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientation, religious beliefs - and ages - championed.
One of the not-for-profit organisation’s top five strategic priorities is to be an Employer of Choice. As part of its investment in staff, the Uniting AgeWell Scholarships Program was launched which saw 26 staff awarded in the first round in 2024. Comprehensive training for care workers across 2025 will enable workers in home care settings to hone their skills and learn new ones.
Home Care Program Manager for Southern Tasmania, Sarah O’Brien, says Denise is a shining example of how a career in aged care is both rewarding and meaningful. “There are so many opportunities for growth, we champion our employees to be the best version of themselves. We ‘grow’ and support them.”
Uniting AgeWell also offers flexible working hours, which affords staff the opportunity to balance careers and family responsibilities and to work in their local communities.
On International Women's Day and every day in many ways, women employed by Uniting AgeWell are making a difference to people’s lives.
This is an opportunity to recognise the impact of valued members of the Uniting AgeWell team and to re-affirm our commitment to providing truly inclusive career pathways.
