For Doreen, aged care has shaped much of her life. After moving from New Zealand to Melbourne in the mid-1970s, she began working in nursing homes across the city, building a career that would span decades.
“I always wanted to be a nurse,” Doreen said. “From the time I was 12, that’s all I wanted to do.”
Doreen went on to work in several roles, working her way up to Director of Nursing. Over time, she worked across a number of homes, including what are now Regis Inala and Regis Shenley Manor, supporting residents and leading care teams.
After retiring, Doreen’s time in aged care wasn’t over. Last year, Dorren made the decision to move into Regis Camberwell, in Melbourne.
For Doreen, there is a sense of familiarity in her surroundings. Having spent so many years working in aged care, her decision to move into the home was grounded in understanding. “Caring for people is something I’ve always known” she shares. Now, she experiences it from a different perspective.
In her time at the home, Doreen has settled into daily life, enjoying the routine and the connection to those around her. It’s a new chapter but one that feels connected to the life she built over many years.
When someone who has spent their life working in aged care chooses this path for themselves, it offers reassurance to others navigating the same decision. It speaks to the value of the sector and the people within it, and to the role aged care plays not just as a service, but as a place to live and feel at home.
