Asmir Huzejrovic possesses the type of empathy and kindness that comes only from lived experience.
Asmir is a Senior Case Manager at VMCH. He helps older people to manage their home care packages so they can continue living independently at home. But Asmir’s journey to the job he loves has not been straightforward, or easy.
Arriving in Australia as a 16-year-old after fleeing the Bosnian war, Asmir was forced to ‘start from scratch’. Even though he didn’t know English, he tackled the difficulties of high school and worked hard to finish his education. Eventually, his hard work paid off as he landed a successful role in the field of Information Technology.
It was difficult,” Asmir reflects. “Luckily, at that time, there was a lot of us kids who came over as refugees. So, we all worked slowly together and were able to gain jobs.”
However, Asmir’s career trajectory changed once his father received a diagnosis of dementia.
“Where we come from, we look after our parents. So, when Dad got sick, I dropped everything to look after him.”
Lacking in the practical skills of personal care, Asmir enrolled in a three-month Personal Care Assistant (PCA) course. Asmir, a successful I.T. professional, never planned on pursuing it as a career. During a work experience at an aged care home, his employer noticed his talent. The employer encouraged Asmir to continue working in the field.