What attracted you to this industry all those years ago? How did you end up with Care On Call?

“I started at Care On Call when I was 26 – before it was Care On Call – and it’s shaped a lot of me, I feel I’ve come a long way. Before that I had a young child, I was just working school hours, and I was still deciding what I really wanted to do.

When I first started I was with a small company based in Palmerston North in the Healthcare sector. I was in payroll and accounts and also doing some caregiving when they were short-staffed. Working with a close-knit team for 2 years, it really showed me how compassion and team work shapes a workplace.  When Care On Call purchased the company in 2012, that’s when we started really growing. I started helping with the due diligences, which I absolutely loved; diving into seeing how people and businesses operate and trying to find anomalies, or how we could integrate their practices into how we currently operated, that was fun. I then became the CFO and it’s just grown and grown from there. It’s big, but it’s great. It keeps me busy!”

You have been such a key member of the Care On Call team over the years and had such an influence on so many aspects of the company. How has Care On Call shaped you?

“It’s shaped my whole life really, for the better. I understand people a lot better. Having been in it for such a long time I don’t really know what I’d be without it, what type of person I’d be... I’ve made lifelong friends and learnt skills that will help guide me throughout the rest of my journey. I would also like to think that I’ve had an impact on the staff and clients over the years!”

What are you most proud of during your time with Care On Call?

“Working for Care On Call over the last 10 years has allowed me to play a crucial role in the growth of the company, which has been a huge accomplishment.

But besides that, I think I’m just proud of everything I have learnt, things I never thought I had the capability of learning. I mean, I haven’t broken the business in ten years, which is great! Learning to navigate not just work, but also studying part time to make sure I do have the skills to grow with the company. Knowing more than I thought I would be able to know.”

What element of your role gives you the most satisfaction? What is your biggest motivation?

“Acquiring businesses and making sure each of them continue to thrive, hearing all the great feedback from clients who have needed our help over the years, and seeing all the compassionate staff out in the field!

When we were a lot smaller you knew all the caregivers by name, all the clients, and you had relationships with a lot of them. It’s a lot more difficult now with the growth of the company, but you still hear all of those great stories of how you’re actually helping people have a better chance, or better control of their life. That is definitely the best part.

It’s great as well that we still have staff with us ten years on, that have been with us since Care On Call took over. They’re still there, they’re still happy, still out there helping clients and making a difference. They just keep going and that’s great.”

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

“Perseverance is the key to success. Especially because I’ve been studying on the side for 10 years now. It’s been a long time but I’m hoping to complete this year. All in between the trials and tribulations that life has thrown my way, we’ve acquired a lot more businesses, it’s gotten really busy, but I’m still doing it. Because once you finish something, and once you complete it, it’s a great feeling.”

What are your favourite parts about working with Care On Call?

“As Care on Call has grown I’ve had the opportunity to grow my own team, and being able to mentor and work alongside my team makes coming to work a joy. I have a great mentor myself and being able to pass along knowledge is not something I expected from myself 10 years ago.  Seeing their growth in their own roles, because a lot of the people that I came in with – like me as well – they didn’t have this mass of knowledge of what they were doing. But just being able to help them grow; and the ones that have been with us for six, seven years, they’ve grown so much. Working for great employers, having awesome colleagues, and making lifelong friends really is good for the soul.”