"I Never Thought I Would Become A Personal Care Assistant"

To spread awareness of the World Mental Health Day on 10 October and the National Carers Week from 15 to 21 October, we are proud to share the story of our beloved team member Vicky Nguyen. We hope that this lovely story will warm your heart and encourage you to share it and touch base with people who are important to you. - Kien & Phuong

"My name is Vicky. I'm currently working as a Marketing and Communication Specialist at Fundwise Capital. Yes, I'm the one who works behind the scene, looking after the content of our company's website, social media and our regular newsletter. We all know how outstanding our brokers are, but today, I will share a story with you all about my second job, thanks to Phuong & Kien for giving me a chance to be in the spotlight.

For the seven years in Australia, I've worked in various roles in hospitality, because it fitted my schedule at university. Until a year ago, I got a job as a personal care assistant (PCA).

For a girl who worked in fast-paced, high volume restaurants & cafes and studied full-time, who would have thought that I would be able to take care of someone, especially in disability care. Well, trust me, sometimes destiny will place you into the path where you learn how to turn the impossible to 'I'M possible'.

Before I start my work at the office of Fundwise Capital in the afternoon, my job is to care for autistic adolescents & youths in the morning. They are wonderful and unique in their own way. The work is challenging and not like anything I've trained for from theories. There can always be an unexpected situation that might put PCA's and clients to uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous situations, especially in public. Because most of them are struggling with communication, they find it difficult to express thoughts, to tell us what they want or to control their temper, etc. This is when getting close, and understanding will play a vital role to build the connection. As daily care is, we still work every day despite COVID-19. National Carers Week will be celebrated from 15 to 21 October. I would like to honour the hard work of all of the carers who have remained working non-stop to provide care to people at their residents, hospitals, aged care and childcare centres. I would like to send the best regard to those primary carers such as parents, siblings, grandfathers, grandmothers, all family members, nurses, doctors and health care workers at the front line.

Are you wondering if health care jobs are stressful?

I would say yes but not only in this field.

Everyone is susceptible to stress, whether if you are working in an office, warehouse, restaurant, the defence force, WFH, factory, and more, or even if you are currently not working. I believe everyone has their own concerns that might lead to stress. Some people might even experience depression & anxiety, grief, illness, ashamed, and addiction such as alcohols & gambling, etc. especially during the current lockdown. This pandemic is not something that we have experienced, except for what we saw in sci-fi movies. But it is here and its impacts on our mind and emotions are very real. We work every day to chase our goals and often forget to pay attention to the mental state of our own and our loved ones. If you read this message and feel like you are under too much pressure due to whatever you are doing or unresolved thoughts, I encourage you to take at least 30 minutes off to do something that you really want to do, or simply do nothing. Also, help is there for those who need it. People can seek help from professional helplines and health care institutions. But a good starting point is to reach out to talk to friends and family members, and maybe they need your help too.

Take care of yourself.

Share love and kindness.

Warm wishes on World Mental Health Day."