Finding joy in helping others

Being actively involved in Care Community life is, for many residents, a natural continuation of lives serving others. And when these activities are directly linked to their care, people thrive.  

Stephen came to Australia from Essex at age 11 and it didn’t take him long to become an invaluable part of his local community. Now living at Morayfield Grove Care Community near Queensland’s Moreton Bay, Stephen began his working life as a telegraph delivery boy with Australia Post at just 16.

It was the start of a career that saw him complete a Bachelor of Arts and Master’s degrees in Education, Social Work and Human Services and go on to work in numerous Queensland government departments.

His keen interest in helping people saw Stephen take on a number of social worker roles, backed by further qualifications in alcohol and drug studies. And hitting the road as a taxi driver consolidated his knowledge of human nature!

A helping hand

When Stephen found he needed a little help managing his own complex care needs, he moved to Morayfield Grove. He aimed to live as independently as possible, stay connected to his community, and use his research and leadership skills to help others at Morayfield Grove.

Stephen and our team worked together to put a number of initiatives in place, centred around matching Stephen’s care needs with his passion for enabling others to live their best lives.

“I feel it’s my duty and purpose to help others for as long as I can,” says Stephen.

In a ‘full circle’ moment, Stephen has returned to his mail delivery days, collecting the mail each day and delivering it to our nurses’ station. This can involve walking up to 500 metres a day, keeping him mobile and active.

As part of our Helping Hands program, where residents use their skills to contribute to Care Community life, Stephen plays a central role alongside our team setting up and running group activities.

And through his research skills, each month he contributes an article to Morayfield Grove’s newsletter, often unearthing fascinating facts about significant dates in that month.

Helping others to find their voice

Stephen is an important voice for fellow residents as a member of each resident-led committee at Morayfield Grove, and Chair of our social committee.

“Stephen is such a wonderful member of our Care Community,” says general manager Robbie.

“He’s a powerful advocate for our residents and he gives so much. On top of what he does for our residents, he’s often involved in award events for our team members, where he’ll present the awards with speeches that show the respect and consideration he has for everyone at our Care Community.”

Passionate about the power of storytelling, Stephen has started a ‘Share and Grow’ group where residents gather to reminisce about their lives. Each session has a different focus to get the discussion started, and it’s proving to be an important point of connection – especially for those who may have previously struggled to engage.

"He's one of those people who's always happy to be involved and lend a hand,” says resident Cecily.

“Stephen enjoys feeling part of things and knowing he's still contributing to the community in his own way. You can always rely on him to speak up if something needs to be said or to stand up for someone who can't do it themselves. He's got a big heart and a real sense of purpose."

For a man who’s lived a life of serving others, it makes sense that Stephen’s good deeds also support his wellbeing.

“I appreciate that everything I’m doing is giving me purpose, and it’s keeping my mind and body active,” says Stephen.