Sharen Suman

Environmental Services – Administration Manager

What do you love about your role?

The diversity that it involves. It means that I don’t’ do the same thing every day and has allowed me to meet many different people within the facility and the entire organisation.

Who inspires you?

My parents, as Italian immigrants they paved the way for my life here in Australia.

What prompted you to get into this industry?

I started in the industry 27 years ago when I did two weeks work experience in a small facility for school in NSW. I loved it so much I have made a career out of it.

Share a moment when you made a difference to a resident’s day?

When I spend 1:1 time with them, so they feel special.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

Fan of the Brisbane Broncos since 1988, love having coffee and catch up with my friends, spending time with my family.

Belinda Charles

Operations Manager | Aged Care

What do you love about your role?

Being able to contribute and ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people receive the best possible care in residential care. I love coming to work every day and seeing the positive changes in the residents as a direct result of great care. I love the feeling of love and laughter you get every time you walk through the door at Jimbelunga.

Who inspires you?

My Mum inspires me every day to take care of those who are unable to care or speak for themselves. She is the best nurse and advocate I know.

What prompted you to get into this industry?

I started in aged care when I was 14 as a personal care worker. When I finished my nursing degree I moved into the hospitals however I always stayed working in aged care at some capacity because I have always had a passion for aged care particularly in the areas of dementia and palliative care.  As a Wemba Wemba woman, I have always wanted to be able to make a difference in Aboriginal peoples’ health and lives. Working for ATSICHS Brisbane is the first time in my career I feel I’m able to truly contribute and use my experience, education and passion to make a positive difference for my people.

Share a moment when you made a difference to a resident’s day?

Every day I believe I make a difference. Whether it is by working with others to increase services, assisting relatives and residents through the difficult transition of going into care, ensuring there is enough qualified staff to care for them, or simply having a dance or laugh with someone as I am walking down the hallways. Their smiles, hugs, thanks, happiness and improved health are all a daily reminder of the way in which anyone that walks through the door of Jimbelunga can make a difference to those that live here.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

When I’m not at work I enjoy time with my friends and family. I have three children who keep me busy.

Renee Cole

Director of Nursing

What do you love about your role? 

All of it, the good and the bad. People find it rewarding if they are able to assist with bringing a new life into the world. I find it to be an honour to be a part of a person’s life in the end. Getting to know them, their story, their family and friends and allowing people to have a dignified and respectful death. Residential care is about caring holistically for a person, being vulnerable as those you care for can also be. Being able to assist and guide the staff to make good clinical decisions based on best practice.

Who inspires you? 

I cannot name only one person or thing, there are many people who inspire me every day. My mother, my family, staff and residents of ATSICHS, our beautiful country… the list is endless.

What prompted you to get into this industry?

I am a caring person, I decided that working in residential care, I can make a difference. The residents are more than just a passing face that I would normally meet in the acute sector. I would like to feel that my time in a resident’s life no matter how long or short has had a purpose or positivity to them and their families. Having a connection with Indigenous people that are genuine, respecting culture and tradition is important.

Share a moment when you made a difference to a resident’s day?

Having a resident come and sit in my office as they were feeling a little down, listening to them, sharing words and a gentle touch on their hand makes them feel that we care for them. That resident then told me a joke, stood up and thanked me and went about her day. (It’s the small things in life that can make the world of difference).

What are your hobbies outside of work?

My four children and grandson keep me busy. I love listening to the sounds of the waves crashing on the beach, sewing and watching my daughter dance. I also love going to the movies.

Teena Thomas

Clinical Manager

What do you love about your role?

My role is to provide clinical support to the staff and mentor the staff new to the aged care industry to achieve the high standards of care to our residents that also meets best practice and in return, I receive love and recognition from my residents and staff.


Who inspires you?

Mother Teresa


What prompted you to get into this industry?

Working in aged care is like being with my family. This is my home away from home.


Share a moment when you made a difference to a resident’s day?

Every single day is different in an aged care and bringing a smile on the residents’ face makes my day.


What are your hobbies outside of work?

Reading and spending time with my two kids.

Sandra Eastwood

Lifestyles and Activities Coordinator

What do you love about your role?

Putting a smile on a residents’ face and helping them to live their life to the best they can.

Who inspires you?

My family inspired me from a very young age to work in aged care, looking after people.

What prompted you to get into this industry?

I was an Enrolled Nurse for many years, working in aged care. I often helped the Diversional Therapist and I liked that side of aged care and decided that it was something that I would like to do.

Share a moment when you made a difference to a resident’s day? 

I have lots that I could share. A special time that I think is special, a resident had had a stroke before coming to Jimbelunga and she was upset that she couldn’t knit or crochet anymore. I told the resident that I would help her to relearn how to knit and crochet. After sitting and showing her how to do these she slowly started and she was so excited to think she could knit and crochet again. She made some mistakes to start with but she practised. Now she sells her finished items and over the past few years she has entered items in the Beenleigh Show and has been rewarded with a prize. This resident tells everyone that I helped her to knit again. Making people happy and for them to enjoy life, makes me happy.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

Spending time family (being a Nan), reading.

Nicole Cutmore

Employee Engagement Officer

Could you please share a bit about yourself?

I am a proud Anaiwan/Kamilaroi Koori woman. I have four children and two grandchildren. I moved to Brisbane 27 years ago, but I still go for the NSW Blues.

What’s your career background?

I was a teachers aide before starting in health. I have been with ATSICHS Brisbane for 13 years. I started off at reception, then became the Allied Health & Specialist Coordinator, then moved into the Practice Support Supervisor role and over the years have acted in manager positions at 4/5 of the ATSICHS medical clinics.

What prompted you to get into this industry?

I wanted a career change. I needed something challenging. I am enjoying my role at Jimbelunga and I look forward to the challenges and good times every day brings.

What are you most looking forward to in your role?

I have a rapport with most of the residents and I love sitting down and having a yarn with them and hearing about their stories. I love that every day is different.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

I love spending time with family and friends. I love painting, going to the movies, dancing and motorbike riding.

Michelle O’Brien

Admissions Officer

What do you love about your role?

I have always loved working with the Elders in the community and assisting the aged and vulnerable. I’m working in a role that I love which includes caring and supporting for our residents and also the care and support I receive from staff.

Who inspires you?

My mother, a proud Dhunghutti Elder who put her family above everything else. She was a strong person and had a heart of gold.

What prompted you to get into this industry?

I joined the Elders support program with ATSICHS at Woollongabba to assist Elders in the community with meals during COVID-19 lockdown. I then came to Jimbelunga to work in administration. This job is very rewarding assisting residents and their families.

Share a moment when you made a difference to a resident’s day?

My previous work experience is with Services Australia so I have been to assist residents and families with Centrelink issues, which has been greatly appreciated.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

I spend my time with my family enjoying the great outdoors – going on BBQ’s, fishing and heading to the beach.

Martha Newsome

Resident Services

What do you love about your role?

The best part of my day is yarning with the residents and listening to their interesting life experiences. Some of these experiences are truly inspiring, especially those stories told from the Stolen Generation.

I love that each day is completely different to the next and love learning about the Aboriginal culture that my husband is part of.

Who inspires you?

My father was recruited from the USA by the NSW Department of Education back in the early 1970’s as they were in desperate need for Special Education teachers. My father ended his career being a Principal of a Special Education school in Sydney.

I follow his principles: “If you can make even the smallest positive difference in a life, that might just be enough to give someone strength to fight through their difficulties for a better future.”

What prompted you to get into this industry?

I’ve always worked in people related roles because that is what I enjoy doing.

For most of the beginning of my career I followed my father into education, doing learning material production for Distance Education. Aged Care was a natural progression in my career and I’ve worked in aged care for a several years now.

When I saw that there was a Resident Service Officer role advertised for Jimbelunga Nursing Centre, I jumped on it and was blessed to be accepted for the role. I find it wonderful that I can contribute to the custodial people of my adopted country.

Share a moment when you made a difference to a resident’s day?

I find it very important to create a genuine bond with the residents, as this enriches their lives in their home, making them feel at home and a safe place.

Understanding their interests and taking time to listen to what they have to say is vital to this role, as sometimes even a slightest behavioural change can indicate something wrong with them, where I will need to alert our nursing team.

Often, I’m silly around the residents, but I think they appreciate that. Everyone can do with a bit of daily humor and if I can do one funny or silly thing to make them smile, even just a little bit, it’s very satisfying to me and makes me feel I’m doing a good job.

What are your hobbies outside of work? 

I have an interest in fine arts and was accepted into Julian Ashton School of Art at 13 and still love creating.

My current creative interests have led me into aqua scaping and terrarium scaping.

To me it’s like creating tiny living worlds.

Rebecca Falzon

Chef

Why did you choose to work for Jimbelunga?

There were so many things going for the job. It’s close to home. It’s exactly the field I wanted to be in. I wanted to support senior citizens in my community. Jimbelunga itself means ‘A place of friendship,’ which made me feel happy. I love it here.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I like rollerskating. I am a swimmer. I like taking the dog out. We go to the dog park and beaches. We go for picnics. I like sunshine. When I’m not at work, I like to be outdoors.

Dave Cannon

Groundsman

What do you love about your role?

I get satisfaction from the before and after, where before something looks untidy and then after you’ve done the job, it looks all nice and neat. You get good pleasure out of it. I like to stay on top of things.

What prompted you to get into this industry?

I’ve always liked to work outdoors. I grew up playing golf and I originally wanted to be a greenkeeper on a golf course. Then I started my lawn mowing business and I got a job at a freight company where I was the groundsman and cleaner there and I ended up taking on the full-time groundsman role and it was really good. I enjoy being outdoors and looking after gardens and lawns.

Share a moment when you made a difference to a resident’s day.

A couple of residents have told me that I’m doing a good job. It’s a big job to do and you are a jack of all trades so it’s great to hear this from residents. I enjoy talking with residents.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

I’ve still got a part-time mowing business. I used to play a lot of golf but now I mainly watch sport or listen to music in my free time.

Mark Whelan

Maintenance Officer