Seniors and Staff Share the Love for Australia at Mercy Place Mont Clare

A trio of care companions at a popular local not-for-profit aged care home will celebrate their love and loyalty for their adopted country on Australia Day, as the not-for-profit aged care home reflects on the nation’s 60,000 years of history.

Carers Marevic Desamparada, Anisha Maharjan and Priyanka Gyawali, who hail from the Philippines and also Nepal, have lived in Perth collectively for over 20 years and say they adore their adopted country just as much as the seniors they care for at Mercy Place Mont Clare.

Care Assistant Anisha Maharjan, who originally hails from Nepal, arrived in Western Australia in 2016 with her husband, leaving behind her family but, as she puts it, gaining a second family when she began working for Mercy Health.

“I love the life here in Perth and particularly enjoy going to the beaches and joining friends for an Aussie barbecue, just as much as I love caring for the residents and hearing about their lives and the parts of the world where they were born and grew up,” says the 27-year-old.

Mercy Health team member Marevic Desamparada agrees and says she loves living in Perth, which she says is so peaceful and quiet, and where the people are also so very friendly.

“My husband is Australian so it’s been fairly easy for me to assimilate since I arrived in Perth 10 years ago last week,” says the 42-year-old, who has recently applied for her Australian citizenship.

“The weather is wonderful and I have enjoyed taking up new hobbies, including golf.  Of course, I do miss my family and try to go back every year, although obviously that wasn’t possible during the pandemic.”

Mercy Place Mont Clare Service Manager, Dorothy Wijangco, said the Mercy Health team was made up of many staff members who were born overseas, and as such the aged care home had a rich culture of diversity and comradeship.

“Everyone is looking forward to Australia Day celebrations at Mercy Place Mont Clare as our lifestyle staff have plans to really engage residents with the spirit of our great nation,” she says.

“We are all keen to celebrate our identity and culture as Australians.”

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