Happy 10th Birthday to Vasey RSL Care Brighton East!
* 15 March 2021 *
Vasey RSL Care Brighton East is our youngest aged care home: a celebration was held recently to celebrate reaching double figures.
Barbara Goodey (pictured below) has lived at Vasey RSL Care Brighton East since its opening in February 2011, moving here from Wattle Lodge.
“When I first moved in, I thought it was unbelievable! The design, the ventilation, the natural light, how clean it was – and still is!” says Barbara.
We asked her what had changed over the last decade: “Nothing much,” she told us. “The staff are fairly stable – we’ve had some of the same staff for ten years.”
In fact, at Brighton East, we have our longest-serving staff member who is coming up to 40 years – yes forty!
Out of the total 144 staff who work here, 87 (60%) have been with us for over five years and 42 (30%) since Vasey RSL Care Brighton East opened in February 2011.
Rom Vidmar, General Manager – Human Resources says: “How long staff choose to stay with us is one of the ways we can tell if they are satisfied with their work and happy in their role – so the fact that so many staff have reached five and ten years’ service is a very good sign that the organisation is successfully looking after its employees and its residents.”
Residential Manager, Anna Borkowska says, “I moved here with all the residents from Wattle Lodge on Bay Street – it was so nice to come to a brand new home – and a bit strange because the building was big – it took a little while for us all to get used to it.”
Anna says that for her it is like a second home: “I love working here,” she says. “I hear such encouraging comments from families – they tell me that they feel it has such positive energy, the staff look happy and everyone is friendly.”
We asked Barbara how she had coped during the COVID-19 pandemic: “I’ve noticed there has been more use of disinfectant on flat surfaces!” she says. “We are lucky – we are relatively isolated and we have not had anyone affected.”
On the day of the anniversary, balloons festooned the entrance and residents and staff enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea including black forest gateau!