Seeing a smile on the residents’ faces, brings Aneta Donevska immense joy, and has done so for the past 15 years.

Aneta first started at VMCH as a PCA at Bundoora Aged Care Residence, before taking on the role of Lifestyle Assistant in 2013. She implements, plans and runs activities to help residents to achieve their goals and to improve their quality of life, while looking after their physical, psychological, cultural and spiritual needs.

Aneta, who can speak Macedonian, Serbian and Croatian, says having this ability is a great asset and helps her to assist residents of different backgrounds to settle in at the residence.
She says that her role gives her the chance to see the creative and fun side of the residents and she enjoys spending time getting to know them.

“They have a lot of life experience and talking to them is like reading a history book as every person has a story to tell. I get great satisfaction in being in a role that I can make small differences in the residents’ life.

“Seeing their new achievements, making a new friend, or developing a new skill – these moments – in some of our residents’ lives, is so important. Seeing a smile on the residents’ face, brings me immense joy.

“Working at VMCH means a lot to me, and it’s a blessing to work with a very dedicated team at Bundoora. The workplace feels like a second home to me, and I like to think that the residents and my colleagues are a part of or are my second family.”

Outside of work Aneta enjoys spending time with her family and friends and enjoys travelling and going to the Victorian snowfields in winter with her two boys and husband. She also has interests in art and history, and in her spare time she enjoys cooking and creating different meals.