BaptistCare At Home is a family affair, just ask the Clark's!

When it comes to caring for the Richmond Valley community, the Clark family is all in. 

Joanne Clark was the first of her family of nine to start working for BaptistCare at home, providing compassionate and quality care to seniors across the Richmond Valley in their home. 

Having been a nurse for a long time, Joanne was looking for a role that would allow her nursing skills and love of people to come together. 

“Working with BaptistCare at home has been a perfect fit for me,” she said. 

“To be able to care for clients to keep them well and happy and healthy in their homes and able to continue living in their communities is really special.” 

“I had been out of work for 16 years looking after the kids, and this has just been the perfect job to combine all my skills and really make a difference for people in our community,” she explained. 

Soon after Joanne started with BaptistCare at home, curious ripples started to filter through the family as her family saw how much she loved what she did. 

Joanne's passion for her work soon inspired her husband, Phillip, to join the team.

“My husband Phillip was working with the NDIS, and he kept saying how happy I was in the job and wondering if maybe he could be a carer too,” she said. 

“He has developed such a great connection with a lot of the clients, especially the retired farmers and older men who are keen to have a chat and want their social outing to be going to the cattle sales or a drive or just having a chat about blokey things,” Joanne laughed. 

Joanne and Phillip were two of nine family members happily caring for their community. Soon, some of their kids wanted to get involved as well. 

“Thomas, my son, had worked as a cleaner in one of the local hospitals, so the clients love how good he is at cleaning their homes.” 

“But they also just love chatting with him as he does it and he is now turning up to clients' houses where there are freshly baked cakes waiting for him and the clients will ask him to sit with them and have a cup of tea and a cake when he’s finished what he needs to do,” Joanne said. 

Soon after, her daughter Lucy started with BaptistCare, making it four Clark family members now dedicating their time to caring for the elderly community across the Richmond Valley. 

The Clarke family's dedication is not just about providing care; it's about building connections and fostering a sense of community.

Joanne said it’s something really special and that she is really proud of, having so many of her family share their skills of care and compassion with their local community. 

“As home care workers, it’s easy to feel like you’re part of the clients family when you see them every week and get to learn their life, memories and stories,” she said. 

“But they are also a really special part of our family too.” 

“I am so proud of my kids and seeing how these two amazing young people have taken to this job and role that so many people their age aren’t even thinking of.” 

The Clark family is one part of the wider network of the BaptistCare at home north coast team who work with local seniors to empower them to stay independent and well in their own homes and communities. 

From housekeeping to personal care, gardening to social outings, Joanne Clarke says there is so much joy in working with the BaptistCare at home team, which supports clients with their individual needs. 

“It sounds cliché, but it really is a job where you make a difference,” she said. 

“When you go into someone’s home it’s about so much more than the job you are there to do. It’s about the interaction, the human connection and taking the time to show kindness to someone.” 

“And to do it alongside my amazing family, well, that makes it even more special,” she said.