Capecare Accommodation Provides Respite From Staffing Shortages

The aged care and health care staffing shortages in WA are well documented, and regional providers in tourist areas are hit with the additional challenge of a tight long-term rental housing market.

Capecare, a leading non-profit aged care provider in the South West, has created a way to take some pressure off both the staff and long term housing availability challenges by temporarily converting some of its cottage respite accommodation and office spaces into staff accommodation.

Agency nurses and care staff from Perth can now stay on site at Capecare in Busselton in their own bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and enjoy shared communal facilities just steps away from the beautiful Geographe Bay beach.

Enrolled Nurse Alana works for a Perth-based nursing agency which provides her the opportunity to work around Western Australia. She said her new work environment at Capecare gave her and her colleagues a great sense of balance during what is one of the most demanding times in her career.

“I love it here,” Alana said. “It’s one of the best facilities I’ve worked in. The staff are all friendly and super accommodating.”

Capecare has 14 bedrooms available in the Busselton facility’s original residential care building which has since been refitted and extended.

“The beach is right next to us and I spend the majority of my mornings there before I start my shift,” said Alana. “The town is amazing too.”

The living quarters have cosy and bright shared living spaces with TVs and lounges, plus a shared commercial kitchen and kitchenettes for staff to use in their downtime.

“I do feel like I’m at home, and making a lot of great friends, there’s a lot of lovely people who work down here,” said Alana.

“I’m in the process of buying a house in Perth so I’m close enough to drive back there when I need to. Working remotely also provides an amazing opportunity to grow your career and earn some extra money and at the moment there’s plenty of demand,” she said.

Capecare has a number of skilled and unskilled positions currently available, which can be viewed at Capecare.com.au, or email hr@capecare.com.au for more information.

Capecare has been established for 60 years and is a not-for-profit and independent community organisation, existing to serve the needs of our older people in the Capes Region.

Click here to find out more about Capecare