Ted Fletcher is one of a growing number of nurses who see working in aged care as a way to progress their career.
As well, of course, to fulfil their passion for working with older people and enjoy a work life balance.
The 27-year-old is already the Senior Care Manager at Uniting AgeWell Kings Meadows Community Aldersgate in beautiful northern Tasmania. He leads a team of nurses and is charged with not only their professional development but for ensuring the best possible care for residents.
He was born in Hobart, graduated with a nursing degree from the University of Tasmania in Launceston in 2018 and immediately started work at an aged care facility. He was there for five years before taking up his current role seven months ago.
“Unless you are based in the emergency department, working in hospitals wards means you tend to become pigeon-holed, for example working in cardio care, so you become expert in one particular field. In aged care, we provide the whole range of care needed for multiple conditions, including dementia care, which is a rapidly growing area of expertise,” explains Ted.
He says there’s great joy in providing holistic care to residents. “In hospital settings patients are discharged and go home. Here we provide all round care for residents on an ongoing basis.”
Ted says he also enjoys interacting with the residents’ families. “Ultimately, their families become like second families to us, it is wonderful to see the resident not as a patient but as someone’s much-loved mum, wife, gran and more. It’s also a privilege to get to know them, to learn, for example, that they like to play scrabble or are fond of gardening.”
Ted also enjoys the work life balance that working in aged care provides. “My fiancé and I are outdoor people,” he says. “We go mountain bike riding, camping, to the beach – anything to do with exercise and adventure!” He says residents always ask about his weekends.
Ted says he joined Uniting AgeWell because he was attracted to the values of the not-for-profit organisation, as well as by its good reputation.
“Ultimately I’d like to be Residential Services Manager one day,” says Ted.
Find out about career opportunities at Uniting AgeWell