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Seeking diverse care workers

Diverse Care is the Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre’s (SMRC) multicultural labour hire service for approved providers of aged care and disability services across southern and eastern Melbourne.

SMRC matches clients with bilingual staff who can provide culturally-specific home and community care.

Karen’s eyes light up at the mention of the work she does as a personal carer.

“I love what I do, and I do what I love,” says Karen of the in-home support she provides as a diverse care worker for SMRC’s Diverse Care Social Enterprise.

Karen is one of more than 80 diverse care workers delivering in-home support.

Originally from Chile, Karen says the matching of culture and language between worker and client is an important value add to the service.

“It’s the cultural experience, right? This cultural experience you can already see ahead of time. How someone may want something or what they might want because that’s familiar to you,” Karen said.

Despite high retention rates and worker satisfaction, more workers are needed to meet an increasing demand for personal care, respite, domestic help and personal transport.

If you are interested in becoming a diverse care worker visit smrc.org.au