Herman, a First Nations man from Broome, WA, never imagined working in the aged care sector - but a leap of faith at age 55 saw him land in a new and rewarding career.
After spending most of his adult life working in maintenance and machine operation, Herman needed a steady job that would get him out of the sun, help his local community, and be more personally fulfilling.
Today Herman is an Aboriginal aged care worker and glad he made the change.
"It's often easier for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to trust another First Nations person to care for them. It can make all the difference in the initial care period. Having someone from the same culture, able to speak the same language, know their voice and better understand the person's life context can quickly build the trust that's essential for ongoing quality care," he said.
Now, Herman is encouraging more mob to consider a role in disability support or aged care, regardless of their age or job experience.
"At my age, I wanted to work inside and I had a pretty good idea of what being a care worker involved. When I looked into (the role) I was told I would get a lot of training and support so, I had nothing to lose and decided to give it a go," he said.
"When I started, I had a lot of really good training on the job and through my workplace and I learned a lot. I was taught all the skills I needed for the job, how to approach and care for older people and how to use all the personal protective equipment to help keep the staff and the residents safe."
Herman said that "buddy shifts" with more experienced staff members for a couple of weeks helped him build confidence about going it alone.
"The training doesn't stop there. We have access to regular courses to keep our knowledge and skills up to date and to reinforce the importance of teamwork. And my co-workers are very supportive, respectful and happy to pitch in if and when I need them," he said.
"With this knowledge and experience, I can travel anywhere in Australia and get a job. It doesn't matter if you're my age or just starting out in the workforce, this job can take you places. I love that. It's a great option for people who want to travel."
Herman the sector could definitely benefit from more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people joining the aged care workforce.
"Here, in Broome, we have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in care. It's good to know they are in a safe place and getting the care they need," he said.
"I would encourage people of any age to give this job a go. You will be supported every step of the way with training, mentoring and buddy shifts at first to get used to the role. There are three or four different shifts in most (workplaces) so the hours can be very flexible.
"Once you've got some experience, you have so many job opportunities wherever you want to go right across the country. I've been here for 12 years now. It must be good."
Herman said the connection and sense of trust between him and the older people in his care is deeply rewarding.
"When you have a genuine connection with an older person they know, even if their eyesight or hearing is low, you come to them with an honest and open heart and they are happy to trust their care to you. That's enormously rewarding and something that is missing from so many other jobs," he said.
More information about careers in care is available online.
