Today is Aged Care Employee Day, and it’s fitting that we have this heartfelt guest post by Paige O’Rafferty, AIN at RSL LifeCare Condobolin, where she shares her journey.
If you told me a year ago I’d be working in aged care, fully trained, passionate, and planning my future around it, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. But here I am, 20 years old, nine months into my role at RSL LifeCare in Condobolin, and I can honestly say this has been the most rewarding experience of my life.
Before this, I was juggling two jobs and studying Individual Support, unsure where life was heading. I knew I wanted to work in the medical field, and surgery was my dream, but I didn’t know how I was going to get there. I just knew I wanted to help people. Then I started thinking more about the older generation. “There are elderly patients in hospitals too,” I thought, “so wouldn’t it make sense to learn how to support them properly?” That thought became a turning point.
With the support of my job provider, I gave aged care a go. And it didn’t take long for me to realise, this wasn’t just a job. It was a calling.
Working at RSL LifeCare has completely changed my outlook. This is a place where you’re not just clocking in hours; you’re enriching someone’s life. Being the reason a resident has eaten, is clean, and is smiling…that’s the kind of success that hits you in the heart. Even on long days, knowing I’ve helped someone get through theirs is everything.
I won’t pretend I knew what I was getting into. I started with zero experience and a lot of nerves. I thought, “Okay, I’ll be on my feet all day, I can do that.” What I didn’t expect was to find a second family. The residents, the team, my mentors, especially my trainer, who went above and beyond to help me succeed, have made this journey feel like home. Their belief in me helped me believe in myself.
In just a few months, I completed my AIN certificate and became trained in almost every area of our facility. I’ve developed professional skills I never thought I’d have so soon: communication, time management, empathy, and maturity. These are the things you can’t learn from a textbook. They come from sitting with someone while they tell you stories from 70 years ago, from brushing someone’s hair, from knowing when something’s not quite right, even when they can’t say it.
There’s a big misconception about aged care; it’s not just wiping bottoms and feeding people. Sure, some residents need physical support. But more often, it’s about connection.
“It’s about listening. It’s knowing when someone’s in pain without them having to speak, or being the person who makes them smile after a hard day. You’re not just a carer, you’re family”.
For me, aged care has also brought clarity. Ten months ago, I felt lost. Today, I feel like I’ve found my purpose. Even if I don’t make it to surgery, I know aged care is where I’m meant to be, and I’m determined to go as far as I can. I’m proud to work somewhere like RSL LifeCare, where we don’t just talk about purpose, we live it. Every day, we enrich the lives of veterans and seniors with dignity, compassion and genuine care. That’s the kind of purpose I want to be part of.
Gen Z gets a lot of labels, we’re glued to our phones, we want instant gratification, we’re not cut out for hard work. But let me tell you, this job will show you what Gen Z can really do. We’re energetic, hands-on learners, full of potential. Aged care gives us the chance to grow, to take responsibility, and to make a real difference in people’s lives. It’s a job that shapes who you are, in the best way.
If you’re like me, someone with a big heart and even bigger dreams, aged care might just be your path too. Don’t come in with expectations. Just come in with an open mind and a positive attitude. Smile. Be ready to learn. Be ready to care. And be ready to find something truly life-changing.
Because trust me, this career didn’t just change the lives of the people I care for, it changed mine.
