Wealth of experience making vast impact

Judy Egan had a mid-career change that’s proven to be one of the most rewarding things she’s done.

Judy is relishing her role as Regional Manager Loddon Mallee Home Care Programs, where she gets to use her wealth of skills accumulated over the years as well as act with heart to help older people live their best lives.

“I feel I can make a difference here,” Judy says. “The role is challenging and exciting.” And one of her goals is to ensure all the programs in the region operate consistently and that the area functions as a cohesive whole rather than being geographically defined.

Judy started at Uniting AgeWell about four years ago as Program Coordinator for Loddon Mallee North Home Care Programs, and her talents were soon spotted and she was promoted to her current position where she is responsible for delivering services to a geographical area the size of some European countries!

“Fonda (Fonda Voukelatos General Manager Strategy & Business Development) has assisted me to grow both personally and professionally,” Judy says. “I have always felt supported at Uniting AgeWell and that people listen to you. Really listen.”

A sum of her past experiences

Judy brings to the role a wealth of experience that covers financial, operational and care-centric learnings.

She spent 20 years working at Australia Post, rising through the ranks from postal clerk to an Area Manager; she’s worked as a financial counsellor and in community services before making the switch to aged care. She first joined another aged care provider in regional Victoria before moving over to Uniting AgeWell.

Her career has seen her work at both the top and bottom ends of the Australian mainland. She was raised in Red Cliffs in regional Victoria, and her career has taken her from country Victoria to Melbourne and to the Northern Territory where she worked in both Katherine and Darwin.

“I’m used to heat, locusts and floods,” she laughs, “I’m a country girl at heart. The temperatures in the Northern Territory didn’t bother me.”

Learning First Nation culture

Judy’s desire to learn more about the First Nation’s culture sparked her move up north.

“It’s very different in the NT,” she says “but it gave me hands-on experience and an understanding of First Nations culture and traditions. We have a number of Indigenous clients with home care packages here in regional Victoria, and I have been able to pass on what I have learned to the team here to ensure we are able to respond to their needs appropriately.”

Looking ahead

Judy has two daughters in their early 20’s who live in Red Cliffs. And she is renovating a home in Charlton, which is situated mid-region which means she can easily travel to the various sites.

“Being in aged care has taught me that life is very precious,” Judy says. “I plan to continue on in aged care, I don’t see myself going anywhere else.”

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