At Catholic Healthcare we are shining a ‘light’ on our people and the exceptional work they are all doing across our services. We share how our team are innovating, engaging and helping to make Catholic Healthcare a great place to work.
This week, meet Ash Pascoe, Community Worker, Home & Community Services, South Team.
As a floating Community Worker, Ash Pascoe plays a pivotal role in providing key services to vulnerable, elderly people in the community.
Ash is the ‘go-to’ person for the team of Community Workers covering client services when her colleagues are unavailable due to unplanned leave or illness. She sees many different clients and primarily provides domestic assistance, personal care services that include assisting with showering, dressing and grooming, helping out with grocery shopping, running basic errands and conducting ‘friendly-visiting’ social support services.
Ash’s focus is on client wellbeing, but she also provides home risk assessments during every visit, observing relevant environmental factors, assessing living arrangements and access issues.
“My clients are all very unique and come from different social, cultural and religious backgrounds, which makes my job interesting and requires me to be flexible in my approach,” says Ash.
“I was referred to the Community Worker role by a friend last year. I had a desire to work in this area as there is a great need for extra support for the elderly and vulnerable.
“I used to work as an Aged Care and Disability Support Worker for three years before I relocated from Newcastle to Sydney, and I’ve been in the role as a Community Worker now for just over a year.”
During the Greater Sydney lockdown period, Ash has been especially aware of her clients’ mental and emotional wellbeing and actively asks if there is a way she can be of additional support – whether listening to their concerns or doing practical jobs like completing an online grocery order.
“A regular client of mine, who lives with anxiety and depression, told me one day that I help just by visiting as my presence makes them feel calm. That is what makes my role so rewarding – being someone who can provide that sort of care for clients, particularly for those who are in need.”
Ash enjoys building relationships with her clients.
“I like getting to know their personalities and being a helpful, positive person who they can rely on and trust to make their lives easier.”
Ash has definitely made her mark in the short time she has been with Catholic Healthcare.
“Ashleigh is an exceptional Community Worker and a great communicator,” says Catherine, Service Planning Team Manager for Home & Community Services. “She continually receives positive feedback from her clients and is making such a great impact in the community.”
August 24, 2021
CHL
This week, meet Leo Chen, Payroll Services Manager, in the Finance team at Macquarie Park, Sydney. Leo leads Catholic Healthcare’s Payroll team and is responsible for ensuring all employment-related salary, allowances and other payments are made in accordance with employee agreements.
September 29, 2021
Healthcare, CHL
Meet Kath Readford OAM, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Lourdes Hospital & Community Health Service, Dubbo. For the past 28 years Kath has supported the Orana region, providing dementia counselling, advice, support and advocacy services. Kath has been pivotal in the work achieved in Dubbo, also setting up the Home Club 20 years ago specifically for people living with dementia.
August 3, 2021
Residential Aged Care, CHL
Meet Karina Gabiola, Aged Care Funding Instrument Coordinator at Villa Maria Fortitude Valley in Brisbane. Karina’s Filipino upbringing instilled in her a strong regard and consideration for other people’s feelings, and also a strong sense of respect for the elderly which she has carried through into her current role as Aged Care Funding Instrument Coordinator.
