The joy from the almost immediate health improvements that the Short Term Restorative Care (STRC) program brings is not only felt by the clients. It’s also shared by Uniting AgeWell STRC Care Advisor Joyce Thuku.
“There’s something wonderful in witnessing the significant positive changes in their lives,” the occupational therapist explains. “And what is great is that this program is brought to them in their homes, where it really matters.”
It focuses on promoting health, wellness, independence and safety by providing Allied health therapy, aids and equipment, which Joyce sums up as a “holistic approach” to improving the older person’s life.
And Joyce is a firm believer in the program which aims to keep clients as well and as healthy as possible at home and preventing premature entry into residential care or hospital admissions while they wait for their home care package.
Joyce knows first-hand how good it is to feel positive about yourself and your abilities. That’s what working at Uniting AgeWell does for her.
“I feel valued, my opinion matters and I enjoy working with my highly dedicated team,” says Joyce. “It’s great to feel like my ideas are taken seriously, and that I can make a positive change not only to clients’ lives, but to the organisation itself. This approach encourages me to learn as much as I can and to be the best version of myself.”
And being the best version of herself is something that has seen Joyce cross the world to achieve.
She was born in Kenya in Africa, and left home over two decades ago at the age of 20 to study in Australia. “Friends of mine had left home to study here, and I heard such positive reports from them about all the opportunities in this wonderful country,” she says.
She did a Bachelor Degree in Occupational Therapy and started working with older people from the get-go.
“I’ve always had an affinity for older people,” Joyce explains. “I have a good rapport with them, I feel a huge amount of compassion and empathy for them.”
Joyce started working in both private and public hospital and community settings, and then a year ago joined Uniting AgeWell. “At UA I feel so incredibly valued. I know I will be supported to grow as much as I can,” she says.
And she is also delighted that UA’s values, including respect and inclusion, mirror those of her own. “I have never encountered racism, not once either from colleagues or clients at UA,” she says.
And what would she do if she did? “I would remove myself from the situation to emotionally protect myself and then I would report it immediately to my supervisor.”
Joyce has always been acutely aware of being mindful and respectful of all cultures. “For example, I always ask clients of Arabic backgrounds whether they would like me to remove my shoes when I enter their homes. Their floor space is also their prayer space,” she says.
In her spare time, Joyce is a busy mum to her teenage daughter, loves the great Australian outdoors, camping and going to the beach.
She’s been back to Kenya several times - but when the plane touches down on the runway at Tullamarine Airport, she knows she’s home.
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