workforce
What facility do you work at and what do you do there? I’ m based in Melbourne and work for a not-for-profit organisation called Benetas, and the aged care facility I work at is St George’ s. I’ m the clinical services manager, but I’ ve worked in a number of different roles within the site as well as the organisation. I started my career with Benetas as an enrolled nurse and then progressed to a registered nurse team leader and then the key coordinator. And finally clinical services manager.
I was also fortunate to be selected to work as part of a project team within the organisation as a project manager on secondment. I have worn many hats and have worked in all capacities within the site.
What’ s your educational background? I completed my VCE [ higher school certificate ] and decided to do a certificate in nursing. I qualified as an enrolled nurse so I could work while I studied to become a registered nurse. At the moment, I’ m undertaking an MBA, and I’ m finishing that in June, hopefully.
Why an MBA? Well, because I’ m currently in a managerial role and I figured it would give me some really good insights into how organisations work and how to apply myself better.
Is that something they encourage where you work? Absolutely. Benetas always encourages self-improvement, education, training and upskilling.
A quick chat with …
Clinical services manager Jasna Cvetic talks to us about life in the aged care sector, MBAs and Kanye West.
By Conor Burke
Why did you choose the career path you’ re on? The decision to work in aged care is a personal one and was easy to make. Growing up overseas, my mother was a senior nurse at an aged care home. As a result of her working hours, we actually ended up living at the aged care home for a number of years. So every day after school I came home to the residents there, who then became my best friends. I spent a lot of time with them and following my mother around the facility and helping her where I could.
My mother continued to work in aged care and I was always exposed to the environment throughout my life. In my teens I used to volunteer at aged care facilities and played bingo with the residents. So I naturally developed a genuine passion for the elderly, their life story and the dying process. The decision to work in aged care post my qualifications wasn’ t much of a decision for me; it was what drove me to do nursing in the first place.
What does a typical day on the job look like? I oversee the day-to-day clinical care delivered to all residents at our site, as well as provide education and information to residents and families about dementia, palliative care, progression of conditions or any other areas that they may inquire about, as well as ensuring specific care needs are met and advocating for all of our residents.
What do you love about the job, and what would you change? I believe there is something very special about being able to listen to so many different stories and often receive life advice from individuals who have lived lives full of their own experiences and special moments. It’ s a privilege to be allowed to provide care during what I consider to be one of the most intimate and private moments, the end-of-life process, with the residents, and
32 agedcareinsite. com. au