When your true calling is in caring  

Southcare customers often describe Community Support Worker Jose in glowing terms such as “brilliant,” “most thoughtful,” “pleasant,” “outstanding,” “caring,” “supportive,” “diligent,” and “funny.” Phrases like “he is the best!” and “he brightens our day!” are frequently heard… but it almost was not to be.

You see, Jose’s journey to becoming a carer wasn’t straightforward and you could say he took the scenic route to get here. In fact, he spent 25 years working in various office environments before discovering his true calling was in caring.

For the past four years, Jose has been an integral part of Southcare, bringing joy and comfort to customers providing essential aged care services so they can stay independent at home.

His path to care began around the time of COVID-19. After being made redundant from his office job, Jose found himself helping a friend who had motor neurone disease and supporting his partner’s aging father.

During this challenging time, he decided to do some studies for aged and disability care and finished top of the class. It was at that moment that he experienced a pivotal moment of clarity: “This is the job for me!”

It’s the perfect reason Jose was named the 2024 Living the Southcare Values award winner at Southcare’s annual event for doing his job in line with Southcare’s values of quality, respect, integrity, cooperation and empathy.

“I love this job, I love bringing smiles to people’s faces and I love that I found this calling later in life as it is a role I see myself doing until I retire,” Jose said.

Southcare Chief Executive Officer Enda Fahy said Jose was a natural at making people smile.

“Jose brings his effervescent personality to work everyday, he loves a chat and is always ready to lend a hand when needed,” Enda said.

“All Southcarers make people smile in one way or another and for them we give thanks everyday,” he said.
Aged Care Employee Day is on 7 August and acknowledges the more than 370,000 people who care for and support around 1.5 million older Australians who receive aged care services.

“Join us and take the time to thank a carer today,” Enda says.

Discover more on our aged care superheroes Laure and Niruja and Sagar and if you would like to be an aged care superhero, reach out here.