STORY - Singleton Grandmother's Career Rise

One of the archetypal images of a grandmother is a sweet elderly lady knitting in a rocking chair who’s starting to enjoy a slower pace of life. While this can quite often still be the case, it couldn’t be further from reality for young Singleton grandmother, Leanne Pringle.

Leanne Pringle is the Assistant Manager of Singeton’s Cooinda Hostel, which caters for 33 permanent residents and provides respite care. What’s interesting about Leanne is that five years ago, whilst running her own successful business and with her father a registered nurse, Leanne had never considered a career in nursing or aged care.

This all changed when an accident involving a family member saw Leanne rise to the occasion and realise the innate ability she had to nurse. Leanne decided to put her skills to good use by volunteering for CatholicCare Hunter-Manning in early 2003. Her duties included being a carer and assisting with catering for the residents of Cooinda and it was here that Leanne realised that becoming a nurse in aged care was what she really wanted to do.

“I was employed as a Care Service Employee in December 2003 at Cooinda Hostel and the practical experience was invaluable in getting to where I am today and I am really happy I decided to change careers,” Leanne said. “It just shows it’s never too late to change career paths and I have been extremely lucky in finding a local organisation willing to encourage my learning and growth every step of the way,” she said.

Leanne has worked hard over the last five years gaining certificates and qualifications in a number of different areas including Community Aged Care, Palliative Care and Accountancy. In 2005 Leanne enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing at Newcastle University and last year graduated, much to the delight of her family, friends and co-workers. Leanne was later successful in becoming the Assistant Manager at Cooinda.

“I wouldn’t have been able to achieve so much so quickly if it wasn’t for the support from CatholicCare and my Manager Sharon,” she said. “It was really comforting to know I had an employer and Manager who supported me and who were flexible with my hours so I could study and do my placements,” she said.

Manager Sharon Sheen can’t keep the smile off her face when she describes her pride in Leanne’s achievements over the past few years.

“Leanne has achieved so much coming from a valued volunteer to now Assistant Manager of Cooinda and our residents just adore her. Leanne provides holistic care and like all our employees, is not just there to do a job, but instead care for our second family,” Sharon said.

Sharon Sheen believes her role as a Manager is to help staff realise their potential to learn and grow within their field.

“It’s about motivating people who perhaps don’t have the confidence to realise their own potential and working with them to help them achieve this,” Sharon said. “You don’t always have to do the same job in Aged Care, there is such wide scope for professional development and Leanne is a perfect example of this,” she said.

Does Leanne have any plans to start slowing down and think about retiring any time soon?

“Not a chance,” she said. “Well not yet anyway. I’m currently researching to do a Masters in Aged Care at Newcastle University and recently became a member of the Australian Wound Society. However I do a lot of seamstressing and reading in my spare time at the moment and I definitely look forward to doing more of that when I get older,” she laughed.

Emma Blackford

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