Kuniko+O

Recounting past education and work experience: I came to Australia as a student to do a masters course in English in IT. That decision was based on my previous studies. I studied Business Administration in my undergraduate course from 2000 to 2004 in Japan. After completion of the Bachelor degree, I worked for the nationwide bank as a System Engineer. I did various training courses in IT in the bank. My job involved a combination of business and IT skills. I worked for the development and maintenance of the system of the web based Global Cash Management System which is used by commercial customers. Throughout the development, I was mainly in the system designing and testing process. Sometimes I was involved in complicated tasks, for example system analysis or marketing based on end-users’ online activity logs. I was not in the programming process much. As maintenance it included trouble shooting which is triggered by the application and customers. The biggest project I worked for was related to the two mega-bank mergers. I liked this job and decided to specialize in IT rather than business. Therefore I decided to gain higher education in an English speaking country, because the standard language in financial business was English.

In 2007, I gained a Graduate Certificate from the University of NSW (UNSW) in Australia. During the summer holiday, I worked as a Java Programmer in Sydney for 4 months. In the meantime I encountered financial problems because of the drastic currency rate change, and then I couldn’t afford to complete my masters degree in UNSW. I decided to change to the University of Tasmania (UTAS) and moved to Hobart.

In July 2009, I complete my Masters degree at UTAS. While I was a student I worked as a casual Web Developer to alleviate my financial problem. At the same time I was graduating, I made the decision to settle down in Hobart. Because my decision on my career was done in quite a short time, I was forced to restructure my life for a while. Besides, I wasn’t able to work in my field of expertise. It made me realize it would be hard to work in Hobart with my current skill set and my lack of the local network made my life worse. To get out of this bad environment, I came to the Work It Out program.

Through the vocational career counselling and other information, I found my new path in the medical area. Data manager is one of my long-term career goals, and I have learned w that many health care institutions have that position. However, I do not have any experience or qualifications in the health care industry and it will prevent me from entering those work options. I found the entry point of the industry in Aged Care. Working in the Aged Care industry will fit into my life plan, which is starting a family. Now I would like to be involved into the community and in the future I would like to contribute to the community as a Carer and Data manager.

Tasks and duties of Aged Carer assist people with their self-medication plan and implement programs of supervision and care for those in residential care provide support at home with health issues and daily living tasks such as washing, dressing, eating, transport and budgeting supervise and arrange activities to enhance the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of those in residential care make sure that th​ose in residential care are washed, dressed, fed and ready for educational and recreational activities supervise those in residential care during domestic activities such as eating meals and showering provide companionship and support during daily activities for those who are sick or aged cook and serve meals, clean premises, wash, iron and perform other household tasks organise refuge accommodation implement appropriate strategies for managing problems related to dementia.

• patience, flexibility and understanding • supportive and caring nature • able to accept responsibility • good communication skills • able to work as part of a team • able to cope with the physical demands of the job • able to perform domestic duties efficiently.
 * 1) Personal Requirements

My workplace is the aged care ‘Queen Victoria Home’ which is located just by the river and in the Eastern shore in Hobart. It takes around 10 minutes from the city by car. It is founded in 1890’s and it has been operated as a private facility for a long time by changing their organising style. The Queen Victoria Home offers a wide range of services and facilities combined with many different housing options and styles. They respects the independence and privacy of living at the facilities. My tasks will include support work, lifestyle and leisure support and shadowing in nursing role. The requirements of clothing are white top, black or navy pants with closed-in and non-slip shoes. My work hours are three out of ten days, I will work from 7am to 3pm and I will work from 3pm to 9pm for the rest of the days. I expect I would work with Administration staff, nurse, food service officer and fitness instructor.
 * 1) Summary of my workplacement.

I expect I could know about the nature of Aged Care and people work there through work experience. I would like to know what the workers make important of, what the required skills are and where the services and industry are heading to. Although I used to live with a family with disabilities, I have never cared the others for a long period. I am not quite sure if I can get along with aged people well enough. I need to make this point clear as well. Besides, throughout Work It Out course, I’ve learned a lot of information about conversation and practices at workplace. I’d like to try my improvement in the real workplace. I had tough communication problems in the previous workplace and it prevented my career, however I found what actually had happened and confused there in the class. Therefore I will try hard to get involved into the workplace this time by utilizing what I have learned and make sure things get better. If possible, I would like to have a look how the computer systems are implemented and used in the services, because it might be helpful to clarify my career.
 * What will work experience be like?**

Recount is written on a note.
 * Work experience week1**

I worked in the same ward with the first week. Therefore I've known how the workflow goes and some residents' names. I worked individually more than last week. I gave shower for two residents and made 4-5 beds. Each residents has different requirements and preferences, and then I felt confidence and a sort of achievement feeling via caring, because I've known something about residents and can serve them better. For example, some need to shut door all the time, some are fond of bright sunshine and so on. On the other hand I started to know more details about some residents' complains than how I had known last week. Some residents don't like to be there or they don't know why they are there. A resident having Dementia and Anxiety needs help to be calm her down. I didn't feel much stress to do it on the spot, because I had encountered those difficult people before. However I realized I had 'restless feeling' at home and I was exposed to mental stresses. I probably need techniques to keep adequate mental distance from residents to protect myself and handle stresses.
 * Work experience week2 [Recount]**

This week, I worked in the different ward from the past 2 weeks. Even I worked in the afternoon shift on the second day. It made me feel nervous again, but it turned to be OK when it started. The ward I had worked for the first 2 weeks seems the place almost all the carers start with. Now I've got basic training and I was getting into the other stage, that I felt. The staff in the new ward were very friendly and kind, besides very efficient workers. Their team work was impressive. Because they have many residents who need medical care, they work with clinical nurses and sharing information very effectively.
 * Work experience week3[recount]**

In the afternoon shift, many things looked different. Peaceful atmosphere and less staff. Not many incidents happened in the shift. Putting the residents settled in a bed (surprisingly start at 3pm), providing tea (dinner) and supper (evening tea) and responding the ad hoc requests are the main tasks. The biggest difference is the time to chat with residents. It actually made me nervous. We have time to enjoy chatting with residents. It means I need to speak in GOOD English. The buddy spoke in very good manner; it was almost like school teacher. Therefore I tried to memorise how she speaks to the residents and me. "Do you want to do ...? " is actually an instruction. It is what I learnt in the course, but It is very important information for me. Not only she but many use the phrase all the time! And now I've got known why my mother in law call "tea" for her dinner... It must be an British tradition...

I worked for 2 afternoon shifts. On Tuesday, there were not enough staff, so I could help to serve Supper (Visiting each room & serving tea). It is usually done by specialized staff, so i felt lucky in a way. They have residents' preferences (or requirements) list and we ask one by one based on the sheet. Some have diabetes and sweets should not be served. It is good to know who has what requirements. It makes job easier and enjoyable. Settling in the bed is also the time providing medical care. Clinical nurses sometimes come and give carers instructions. They looked complicated and I just couldn't do anything except for looking.
 * Work experience week4[recount]**

My uncle in law has stayed in the bed of RHH now and I saw nurses in the hospital (emergency unit) as well, and I realized the nurse work looked pretty different. Aged care looks much relaxed, but more people(residents & carers) relys on their decision. It was good to know.

Recount on a note and submitted.
 * Work experience week5 [recount]**


 * 'What are your strengths and weaknesses'**
 * 1) For the aged care home.

One of **my strengths** is having a good empathy. I am good at guessing and understanding what the residents want. When I could have communication and connecting with the others, I have achievement feeling. For example I could work with residents having various level of dimentia. Sometimes I could feel their frustration or disappointment of themselves, and could deal with them.

At the same time, I am good at organising tasks and collaborating with the other staff flexibly. For instance, I memorise what to be done for each resident and organise the tasks to get done smoothly. 2 carers need to present on the spot to transfer residents by machine, and I don't have any problem to ask other staff to give me a hand.

I make important of commitment. Commitment in the workplace is very important to me. Once I commit something, I do my best to complete it. For example, I have worked as technical support for 7days-24 hours. I have dealt with all the troubles even it happens midnight.


 * My weakness** is that I cannot work efficiently under pressure of competition.

Speech for luncheon I am happy to have this opportunity to share my experience with you all. I did my work experience in Queens Victoria Nursing Home in Lindesfern as a Trainee Aged Carer. The caring work was completely new to me, so, I was terribly nervous in the first stage.

I started with small cleaning, remembering the items and hygine rules in the facility and getting closer to the residents step by step. Helping to get dressed, feeding, giving a shower and sometimes making them calm down mentally.

I found interesting and challenging to work for residents with dimentia. One resident had wandering and disordered behavior. However, sometimes I could see her intention for the activity, frustration or calmness in her mind. I found I have an empathy which is good for caring work. On the other hand, it was still difficult to deal with medical and physical requirements, because of lackness of my knowledge.

I was always under supervision of work buddies. Thanks to their clear and kind instructions, I could have gotten through and enjoyed working there. What I found in QVH is that staff are happy to help residents and residents are also happy to live there. I do hope to be back to QVH as a qualified carer, or even possibly as a resident. Thank you for your listening.