Dedication and Helping Hands

* 26 January 2022 *

A message from our CEO for Australia Day 2022

One day last week, at Vasey RSL Care Brighton East, I noticed a young woman having her orientation as she began working. The staff member introduced us.

I found out she was in her 20’s, lived not far away and had received an email through Disaster Relief Australia calling for volunteers or casual staff to lend a hand here at Vasey RSL Care.

She said: “I’m just here to help” and this response to our call was very humbling. It brought tears to my eyes.

One deeply-embedded characteristic of this country is the concept of ‘mateship’ and helping each other out. Whether it’s through droughts, floods, fires or pandemics, the response from ordinary people is to support each other and help out when times are tough.

For nearly two years now, our 500-strong staff has battled to keep our community safe from COVID-19. They have demonstrated this quality of mateship and supporting each other, doing what needed to be done through the ups and downs of the pandemic.

I don’t have enough words to express my gratitude to our entire staff. Thank you does not seem enough.

With the arrival of 2022 came the new Omicron COVID-19 variant, and rather than the New Year we all hoped for, case numbers soared to alarming levels. Inevitably, our staff, with children at home and partners at work, were hit: some were ‘household close contacts’, while others tested positive themselves, or were looking after COVID-19-positive family members.

Staff shortages affected us, as they did the entire aged care sector.

Our staff once again demonstrated their commitment to our residents, working extended hours, double shifts and extra days to make up for those who weren’t able to. They have shown their flexible attitude, taking on the many new tasks required and the constant changes in the workplace – including our central office staff.

In spite of all these efforts, our concern over critical staff shortages continued to grow.

We put out a call for help through our networks, seeking anyone ‘willing and able’ to help us out on the ground.

That call was answered.

Vasey RSL Care has been on the receiving end of helping hands and willing hearts in our time of need: what we have experienced has been truly humbling.

People from all walks of life responded with warmth and generosity – local residents, ex-service organisation members, volunteers, students, family of our staff and residents and people with no connection to us, but a willingness to help out when needed.

Volunteer Linda (left) from RSL Victoria has been one of the wonderful people who have helped us through this difficult time. She is pictured at Vasey RSL Care Brighton with resident, Annie – who was a Corporal in the Air Force, and Vasey RSL Care General Manager Aged Care Services, Lee-Anne.

Through RSL Victoria we have had terrific support, not just from their community, but some of their own staff from ANZAC House giving up their time to help us. And through Disaster Relief Australia’s contacts, we’ve seen everyone from the young lady I met at Brighton East, to veterans and retirees.

Whether they could come for a few hours or a few days didn’t matter. They came and they helped.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to all those organisations such as RSL Victoria and Disaster Relief Australia who shared our call for help: your support and your connections have been invaluable.

And to those who answered the call, donned gowns, masks, gloves and goggles, and so willingly performed all the things we needed you to do – from the bottom of my heart: thank you.

The ‘Vasey Reserves Bench’ has brought fresh energy at a time when staff have been feeling the strain, positive attitudes that lifted others, their own individual talents to support our residents, and a much-needed boost for us all.

You will have heard me say before that I feel very fortunate to live in this great country. The support shown for Vasey RSL Care by our dedicated staff and this group of willing helpers has cemented that feeling for me.

Mateship and simply helping out are characteristics of the Australian community that were born in hardship and have continued to characterise our population whenever times are tough. That people of all ages and backgrounds are willing to show mateship and a helping hand to others in need is a reason for hope and optimism, even while COVID-19 continues.

With best wishes to all as we reflect on who we are this Australia Day.