If you need emergency services, please contact 000
Are you feeling burnt out? Consider aged care respite.
Looking for a rewarding career in aged care and ready to start now?
View our current retirement living homes for sale.
Search
Contact Us
Close
Services to keep you independent
Government-funded support
One on one care and support
Support to help you stay at home
Allied health support services
Everyone deserves a break
Government or privately funded
Connect with others
Help to access support services
Personalised care and support
14 locations across Victoria
Principles of Montessori
Tailored to individual interests
Helping everyone adjust
If you care for someone, we’re here
Maintain your quality of life
Here for people of all ages
Take a break and have some fun
All your questions answered
Independent living for over 55s
Our latest properties available
Inner Melbourne communities
Camberwell
Deepdene
Kew
Hawthorn
Toorak
Suburban communities
Clayton
Kyneton
Trentham
Eltham
Bacchus Marsh
Pakenham
Balwyn
Brunswick West
Greensborough
Torquay
Everyone deserves a home
services for 18+
Great places to call home
Reach your developmental goals
Pathways to paid employment
Small group programs
Stay independent at home
Get the best out of your NDIS plan
support for 13-18 year olds
Reach developmental goals
Fun programs for your teenagers
NDIS planning
programs for 0-12 year olds
Support for developmental delays
Fun programs for your kids
A school where your child can shine
About St Paul’s College
Prepare your child for school
View our for school policies
Commited to the safety of your child
Menu
Back
Enter your search term below
Blog
→
Bringing passion to Providence
Julie Pollard says she has been privileged to work for VMCH for the past three years. Starting as a lifestyle assistant, she is now proud to hold the position of Lifestyle Coordinator.
Julie doesn’t consider her job as work. It’s her passion. She likens what she does to the expression: ‘‘it’s easy to sell something you believe in.’ She believes in Providence, and she believes she is truly following her passion.
Where do I start! The challenge driven through a passion for holistic care enables me to encourage residents to live and laugh, enriching their lives through art, craft, outings, games, trivia, the list goes on!
A smile is infectious, bringing a smile each day to just one person, makes me feel I have accomplished what I have set out to do.
There are so many occasions when residents touch my heart, but two come to mind. I stopped by to visit a lady who was in palliative care, before I went home. She was surrounded by family as passing was imminent. When I was there, she opened her eyes and asked when I am dressing up in my Welsh national costume again, as she was Welsh. The fact that she remembered this, and me, was so touching.
Another time, a lady who had dementia in its final stages would come to life when asked to dance. Sometimes not waiting to be approached, she would wave in eagerness to be on the dance floor when performers visited. This lady had lost the ability to speak except for a kiss on the hand and to say, ‘I love you’. But when she danced, she would lead and talk about her and her husband dancing together back in Scotland.
VMCH Providence has strong values that I and many of the staff, connect with. VMCH, and I, believe that our older generation still has a voice, and if they do not, then we are to be their advocate. They had a past, and just because their minds or bodies are now failing them, they still need to be heard. Respect and compassion are only two of the important qualities that a care worker should hold.
Prior to VMCH I had my own café, which became a meeting place for young and old. I held activities during the school holidays for families, parents and grandparents, for them to bring the ‘littlies’. I feel that lifestyle in residential aged care is a continuation of that work, and the cafe was a stepping stone.
I enjoy going to see movies, attend rock and roll classes. I’m a member of the local amateur group called Moonlite Theatre and I enjoy the great outdoors.
I also have three boys, Leigh, Tyson and Luke, who I adore. As a teenager I had many operations which supposedly left me not being able to have children. I was so glad to prove them wrong! I also recently remarried a wonderful man, Tony. It is like being married to my best friend.
Website Design & Development by ID Digital Agency
Locating the information you need has become far easier with our useful guide.
Answer a few simple questions and you will be on your way.