At the heart of Allowah is a team of compassionate and dedicated individuals who are committed to wholeheartedly care and support the children’s well-being, no matter what circumstance.
As a support worker, Mairi’s approach to care includes ensuring that the children at Allowah feel like they’re at home; comfortable and happy. “It’s about making sure that they have had a good time, that they felt happy, that they felt like someone sat with them and was investing themselves in making sure that they feel happy and loved and cared for.”
When Mairi plans a day with the kids, she ensures that they will have fun activities to enjoy. “First thing in the morning, getting outside in the fresh air with the sunshine, playing some music and bubbles. Learning how each child communicates individually and being able to reciprocate that with them is really important.” Mairi also finds joy that she can work with a team who share the same love and care as she does for the kids at Allowah.
Mairi, Support Worker at Allowah
Indira, Registered Nurse at Allowah
Indira’s journey with Allowah started when she was a student undergoing a nursing placement in 2019. Originally from Nepal, Indira loves the unique interactions she has when caring for the children.
“One of the kids I work with closely is a very happy, loving and expressive child. We always love to be like “how are you today?” and he explains it in his own way, like grabbing me and nodding to as if to say “I’m fine,” or [signalling] “you didn’t see me in a long time, where were you?”
When being around the child, she says that they had a special connection because of the interactions they had with each other, even when it’s non-verbal. “I can tell from how he’s smiling and being shy and everything. These interactions- it gave me a reason.” When Indira’s placement came to an end, she knew that she wanted to come back.
“When you see your efforts make a difference in the kid’s life… that’s why I’m here.” She started working with us as an Assistant in Nursing, and after finishing her studies, she now cares for the kids as a Registered Nurse on the Allowah team.
For Maribeth, being our Infection Control Nurse as well as the Quality and Safety Officer at Allowah gives her confidence that she is able to provide a safe and quality nursing care to the kids. As a mother of three, she feels a strong sense of duty of care and compassion for the kids at Allowah, just as she does with her kids at home.
“Being able to provide that environment for the children where they feel like they’re at home with their families, the way we provide the care, the way we treat them and the way we recognise how they feel, even if it’s non-verbal communication. They look us in the eyes and we’re able to tell they’re hungry or they’re in pain or if they didn’t have a good sleep. It’s that being able to understand what they’re feeling.”
Whether it’s managing our infection control procedures, working a nursing shift, or conducting a safety audit – Maribeth does everything with a smile, knowing the difference she’s making.
Maribeth, Infection Control Nurse/Quality and Safety Officer
Thank you for your patience as we update our website to reflect Allowah’s next chapter and the changes announced in June this year. If you have any questions, please contact our CEO Elizabeth McClean at emmclean@pcnsw.org.au.