How mentorship shaped Nicole Jenkins’s future.
Mentors are important – Nicole should know, that’s how she ended up in Human Resources to begin with. Now this HR manager is working with her the Eurobodalla Community Investment Committee (CIC) to mentor a new generation into aged care.
Reflecting on her career path, Nicole said, “I left school in year 10 and did an admin course. When I started working, my manager recognised that HR would be a good fit for me so I did a Diploma when I was 21.”
“ In regional areas, HR jobs can be few and far between, I was very fortunate to win this role – since I’ve been at Banksia I’ve completed my Professional Certification through AHRI along with a Graduate Certificate in Organisational Psychology.”
She added, “There are several parts to HR: and I have always been drawn to the people side more. I like to connect with people on all levels, not just be on the other side of a disciplinary matter; I want to know the staff well and help in any way to make their working lives better.”
First in line for change
When asked why she got involved in the Eurobodalla Community Investment Committee (CIC), Nicole said, “It’s an opportunity for Banksia to build a workforce for the future and recruit young people. Young people have new ideas, new skillsets, new passions, it’s certainly going to help build and continue Banksia’s workforce.”
She recalled, “I think I was at the very first workshop they ran with employers, in 2023, I was invited by Rhonnie, [the co-chair from Eurobodalla Shire Council] who I’d crossed paths with many times.” Nicole added, “One thing that is really important to me being on the committee, not only is it helping support Banksia, but it is supporting and advocating for other aged care providers in our area. It is a challenging sector, if we have new graduate nurse work with us for 12 months and they leave to work with another provider, we are confident we have given them the best knowledge and experience possible that can be shared with another aged care organisations. Eventually that staff member may come back to us again. It is not just about Banksia but for our sector.”
Smashing stereotypes about aged care
“My only exposure to aged care prior to starting with Banksia, was with my own grandparents and I think many young people are the same.” She added: “I’ve worked in many places, in for-profit and not-for-profit organisations, but aged care is different… I get a lot out of it as well. The reward from my role is witnessing the benefits I see our residents getting from our care and services. I feel a part of those services through recruiting qualified staff who are the right fit for Banksia, organising training, education and other staffing services. I hope to ensure staff are as happy and fulfilled as they can be in their workplace. I think I have become quite invested in what we do here at Banksia, and I really want to see other people do that too.”
Learning from the next generation
On what she’d say to the other employers considering the CIC, Nicole said, “being involved in the CIC and the activities we’ve done with young people, we are constantly learning about ourselves as an organisation through the process; [learning about] things we can implement immediately into our recruitment, onboarding and ongoing support, particularly for our younger employees.”
Nicole and her colleague signed up to be clients for a ‘young entrepreneurship’ workshop to get local high school students’ perspectives on several issues the CIC was looking at. They posed their ‘business problem’ to a group of year 10 students: ‘how do we market an entry-level aged care role to young people’ and ‘how do we change stereotypes around working in aged care among young people?’
One solution the young entrepreneurs found to stereotypes aged care careers was showing the variety of career paths that were available.
“As soon as I said to them “What do you do in aged care? What are the roles?” 100% of the group focused on care roles, they didn’t consider the clinical side, the chefs, the kitchenhands, domestic services, maintenance and administration. Then when I asked about what they felt about the caring side of aged care, a young lady said ‘it’s just gross’. By the second day she had changed her mind and said ‘it doesn’t actually sound that gross’, and showed a keen interest in career options.”
Hands-On Learning
Later that year, Banksia welcomed local high schoolers for a three-day work experience bootcamp – and several students were inspired to return.
Nicole said, “We had the young people onsite; we did a presentation and a Q&A about their thoughts on aged care and dementia. Students did a craft activity with residents, helped serve lunch, toured the lodge, and tried activities showing what it’s like to live with some physical limitations – we gave them goggles to affect their eye sight, gloves to change dexterity and asked them to try to do up pyjamas with buttons along with having them experience being in a wheelchair and being moved in a sling lifter. We had a resident talk to the students and she kindly said, ‘Ask anything you want.’”
One student asked, “‘How do you feel about somebody showering you?’” The resident replied, “‘I don’t like it at all. I appreciate what they do for me. I know I need it and they do it in a way that makes me retain as much dignity as possible, but of course, I’d rather do it myself.’” The students enjoyed hearing her stories, and Nicole felt it made them see our residents as people and how they, as potential staff, would be valued for the services they would give residents. In addition, the students weren’t expecting to see a chapel, dining rooms, and lovely personalised rooms in the facility. Nicole said, “I think they saw it was a home, not just a place to live, this was a really great outcome.”\
Supporting young people in the workplace
Banksia is working with the CIC to pilot a new type of entry-level role for high school students in aged care. Nicole said, “We are learning about ourselves as an organisation as we go through the process; learning about things we can implement immediately into our recruitment, onboarding, training and ongoing support.”
“Younger people need more time, they require things explained in everyday language, this could be their first job, and to understand why they’re doing something,” she said. Not everybody is a natural trainer or mentor. “It’s about matching the right young person with the right experienced staff member to get the most positive outcome.”