Career Pilot - Work Experience Reflections

Yes Esther, I can imagine good communication is critical in an aged care facility! And any break downs in communication can have some serious effects. You have to communicate not just with other staff but the residents as well, which requires flexibility and adaptability. It's good that you observed the communication problem while on work experience - a clear reminder of why it's so important! And I think I agree with your last point - some of these skills seem inherent (we're born with them or we're not) - but some can definitely be learned and/or improved upon. Being conscious of your own strengths and weaknesses is crucial.

Thanks Esther, it's nice to see that you have good skills and are comfortable in them. Work Experience seemed really fun!!!! Hope you enjoyed it!!!

mera care aged care facility (esther)

while on work experience I noticed that the most commonly used employability skill is communication and teamwork, they all had to communicate about everything they did because if they didn't it would usually have a bad affect on a client, for example when one of the carers forgot to tell the other carers that she was going out with a resident to play pool with him there was a whole trolley full of food that was left for 40 minutes when it was supposed to be given out to the other residents so they could eat. I think I am fairly confident in most of the employability skills, but I feel that I'm most confident with the problem solving skills and the communication skill. mainly just think I was brought up in a way that we have to always be thinking critically and be able to handle difficult situations the best way we can. I think that most of these skills are the kind people are born with, and strengthen through out their life, but I think that they can be taught as well. like the technology one.

Scotsburn Nursery is a great place with friendly people and it is hardwork to do all the things around the workplace. I learnt that your feet will die within the first 2 days and that your back will hurt too. I had to place down plants and trolley around all the plants. I also did potting and placed down those pots to grow bigger and better. Then I shoveled some bark and stones into a wheelbarrow and took the wheelbarrow to a specific area to tip. My foot was hurting so I checked it out and I had an ingrown toenail and had to leave early and get it fixed, it's all good now!

Ayoub Forrest 

Mera care aged care facility (Esther)   

During my time on work experience I learnt that there are many different job roles and responsibilities that are involved in an age care home, I always just assumed that there were carers and cleaners but it is actually more complex and strict process to everything then you would think, it has really given me a more in-depth look at what my mum does for a living. while being there I had to do a number of thing like talk to the residents, massage the residents hands, hand out meals, hand out mail, read the mail to them and on the last day I was stuck in the laundry room, believe it or not laundry was the hardest and had the most rules and regulations. the workplace was really calmed and laid back, I think they try and make it as calm and as boring as they can for the old people, the staff were all really nice and I really liked the fact that there were a large variety in age cultures and experience.