19 October 2021
Stepping into the role of Assistant Manager at Regis Playford earlier this year, Kerry Fittes is a living example of the many benefits of a career shift into aged care.
It was over fourteen years ago that Kerry first discovered Regis. With a background in hospitality, she initially started as a Food Services Assistant and then went on to experience a range of roles across the catering and housekeeping departments. This included working as a cleaner and running the Home’s on-site café. In 2013 she was given the opportunity to move into the office as an Administration Assistant, which led to her becoming the Office Coordinator five years later. “I reentered the workforce and was lucky enough to start in an Aged Care home where I fell in love with the nature of the work. I still remember the first resident I connected with all those years ago and realising at that time how much we can make a difference to residents’ lives”, she recalls.
In her new role, Kerry still values the relationships she builds with residents as the most important part of her role. As an Assistant Manager, Kerry plays an integral part in welcoming new residents to the Home and helping them get settled. Her favourite thing is fostering connections with residents and their loved ones through Regis’ core values and supporting them through the transition into residential aged care. “I am genuinely passionate about the care we provide and feel proud of the beautiful home environment we provide our residents”, she says.
To others looking for a meaningful career, Kerry enthusiastically recommends aged care because of the ability to “be a professional whilst working from the heart”. When she comes to work every day, she looks forward to seeing the residents and learning about their lives. The trust involved in these conversations is particularly special to her, and she enjoys hearing about the many interesting experiences and thoughts on life that residents choose to share.
