Amber Aged Care
Jobs for People with Disability in the Campbelltown City Council
Amber Aged Care, Paradise
Offering a safe, supportive and meaningful environment for residents, Amber Aged Care is unique. Not only do they provide residents with high-quality care, but they also provide jobs for people with disability.
Opened in 1992 under the name, The Baltic Communities Home, the aged care facility transitioned to the name Amber Aged Care in 2012. With a focus on broadening the serviced community base and committing to providing quality care and accommodation, Amber Aged Care is a not-for-profit organisation based in Paradise, in the Campbelltown City Council area.
In 2020, Dominique Evele joined Amber Aged Care as the new Chief Executive Officer. Born with congenital disability, Dominique has lived experience with how people with disability are treated professionally. ‘I’ve had barriers in employment throughout my life,’ Dominique explained. ‘When I started at Amber Aged Care and had the opportunity to join the Road to Employment Project with Purple Orange, I jumped at the chance,’ she added.
In essence, the program supports employers to understand and embrace disability inclusion and the associated individual and organisational benefits. As a result of this program, Amber Aged Care has employed numerous individuals across a range of different functions, such as support services and maintenance.
Meet Joseph
One such individual is Joseph. Starting at Amber Aged Care in February of 2022, Joseph’s role has developed over time. Last year, he was tasked with working in the kitchen, performing duties such as washing the dishes and taking out the rubbish. This year, his focus has shifted to ensuring the outdoor tables and chairs are clean, tidying up outside and collecting the mail.
‘Amber Aged Care is a fun place to be. I like the people there, they are very nice to me, and I like the things I get to do there,’ Joseph said. Working three days a week in three-hour shifts, Joseph, who has Down Syndrome and an element of autism, has experienced a myriad of benefits. From learning new skills such as time management to improving his self-esteem and confidence, Joseph has made great strides. He commented on his progress and stated that his job ‘made him feel more like a man than a boy.’
While there can be challenges at times, such as change being a little difficult for Joseph, Dominique and the Amber Aged Care team work every day to stand true to their values. Namely, being inclusive of all people.
‘We knew that when we originally employed Joseph that it wasn’t going to be the easiest thing, but at the end of the day, we just kept pushing forward because we wanted it to work. We have a real willingness here to go back to the drawing board rather than just giving up,’ Dominique explained. ‘It’s important to remember that not everyone may work out, but not every able-bodied person works out either,’ Dominique added.
This passion for providing opportunities means that everyone within the organisation subscribes to a certain ethos. The foundation of this is the inclusion plan. ‘I am a true believer that anyone who wants to work should have the opportunity. If you don’t drive your organisation like that, you’re actually putting yourself at a deficit,’ Dominique said.
One way that Amber Aged Care embraces inclusion is by looking at job descriptions in a new light. When looking to increase staffing, Amber Aged Care— and every organisation— has an opportunity to look at the role and assign certain tasks to someone who doesn’t necessarily have the ability to fulfil the whole role but can still make an impact.
‘People with disability bring a different understanding and ideas to your organisation because they may have faced a challenge where they have had to think outside of the square,’ Dominique said.
People with disability, particularly in the aged care sector, also offer a unique level of empathy because of the barriers they typically face. When they are caring for people, they can tackle challenges in dynamic ways.
A top-down approach
As such, fostering inclusion filters from the top down. Recognising this, Dominique has also worked to educate and support staff members. There are also monitoring processes and an open-door policy in place to ensure that any challenges faced can be addressed and that support is provided.
When organisations want to initiate or develop a disability inclusion program, commitment truly is paramount. ‘You need to have a willingness to have open conversations and make potential workplace adjustments. Creating an inclusion program or practices and standing by them is key to offering opportunities and also experiencing the benefits,’ Dominique said.
With individuals able to empathise and connect with residents, Amber Aged Care is truly fulfilling its promise of creating a safe and supportive environment for staff and residents alike. With creating a caring community at the heart of operations, there is no greater location for Amber Aged Care than the Campbelltown City Council area.
Joseph likes to ride his bike to work, and community members look out for him along the way because of the true village vibe of the Council area. There is also a shared values system between Council and Amber Aged Care centred around fostering community. Especially when you consider Council’s Disability Access and Inclusion Plan that is dedicated to increasing jobs for people with disability. ‘It is really important to me that we have the opportunity to class everyone as equal and valued,’ Dominique said.
Create an inclusive work environment in your organisation with our help. Contact us today for support.