Aged Care a Meaningful Change for Merridy

When Merridy Baylis, Resthaven’s Executive Manager Clinical Governance and Operational Excellence, decided to enter the aged care sector in 2020, she knew she would face a steep learning curve. However, as an experienced ICU nurse and senior clinician, Merridy is known as someone who rises to a challenge, and the move has proven to be eye-opening and truly fulfilling.

‘When you take yourself out of your comfort zone, that’s when learning and value happens,’ Merridy says.

Merridy joined Resthaven in April 2020, in the role of Senior Manager Clinical Services. In this role, she provided strategic clinical operational leadership to the organisation. This was a time when, due to the COVID-19 virus, clinical needs were continually changing and there was a higher-than-usual emphasis on this specialist area.

However, it was not the first time Merridy had made a big leap. After finishing her nursing qualifications and working at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) for some time, Merridy made the decision to continue her career in the Middle East.

‘I had three goals at that stage – to travel, to get paid well, and to create opportunities for myself,’ Merridy says. ‘I felt that a move to Saudi Arabia would tick all these boxes.’

Merridy worked overseas for six years, relishing the experience that led to education and leadership roles in the health sector. On the personal side of things, it was here that she met her husband and started a family.

In 2010 they moved back to Adelaide and Merridy returned to the ICU before becoming a Clinical Educator and working in the Transition to Professional Practice Program (TPPP) with ICU specialties. Clinical work called again, and Merridy worked as an Organ Donor Coordinator for five years, while also commencing her Masters in Health Administration. With this new knowledge, Merridy moved to working with Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) Outpatients (OPD). In this role, Merridy assisted outpatient clinics to move from the old RAH to the new RAH, and to centralise operations.

‘There was a lot of change management involved in this role, bringing in a systems approach to referral management and working with diverse stakeholders across the public health sector,’ Merridy says.

She later became the Nursing Director of OPD, and then the Director. It was in this role that she led the establishment of South Australia’s first COVID testing site, before joining Resthaven some months later.

In December 2024, Merridy was appointed to her newest role, that of an executive at Resthaven.

‘The new role comes with a different set of responsibilities, and part of my role is ensuring Resthaven meets the strengthened Quality Standards that will come into effect on July 1,’ Merridy says. ‘Resthaven is already in a really strong position, but we’re focussing on the systems we currently have, and how we can improve them to meet the Standards and take any opportunity to enhance the lives of older people.’

As someone who didn’t have aged care on their career path, but has found her passion here, Merridy wants to encourage others in nursing to consider the sector.

‘Aged care is its own specialty,’ Merridy says. ‘There are a lot of opportunities for career development, as well as a lot of diversity and chances to specialise in areas such as continence, palliative care, dementia and mental health care. Resthaven is amazing at supporting professional development, and many Resthaven employees have started as Personal Care Workers and have been actively supported to continue their education to enable them to move into other roles. ‘

Congratulations on your appointment Merridy!

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