Female Aged Care Support Worker – Serbian/Croatian/Montenegrin Speaking

About Himayat

Himayat Support Services is a Social Traders-certified social enterprise providing culturally responsive disability, aged-care and community support across Canberra.

We work with people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and place particular importance on communication, trust and continuity of care. Our approach is personal, respectful and grounded in understanding the individual—not simply completing a list of tasks.

Role Description

We are seeking a female support worker who speaks Serbian, Croatian or Montenegrin to provide regular support to an older female client in Canberra.

The client is experiencing communication difficulties associated with a language barrier, anxiety and cognitive decline. She can become frustrated when she is unable to communicate her needs clearly and has expressed a strong preference for receiving support from the same female worker at each visit.

This is an ongoing casual assignment involving:

• six hours of support each week (2 x 3-hour visits per week);
• regular, consistent shifts wherever possible; and
• support delivered in the client’s home and, where required, in the community.

The successful worker will be calm, patient and dependable, with the ability to establish a familiar routine and communicate confidently in Serbian, Croatian or Montenegrin.

Additional casual work with other Himayat clients may become available, depending on your availability, experience and suitability.

Key Responsibilities

Personal care and daily support

• Provide respectful personal-care assistance in accordance with the client’s care plan, preferences and level of independence.
• Assist with daily living activities and other agreed support-at-home tasks.
• Protect the client’s privacy, dignity, comfort and personal choice.
• Encourage the client to participate in tasks and decisions wherever possible.

Communication and emotional support

• Communicate with the client in Serbian, Croatian or Montenegrin.
• Use calm, clear and reassuring communication.
• Allow additional time for the client to understand information and express her needs.
• Recognise signs of anxiety, frustration or confusion and respond patiently.
• Establish a predictable and familiar routine across visits.
• Build a professional and trusting relationship while maintaining appropriate boundaries.

Observation and documentation

• Complete accurate shift notes after each visit.
• Report changes in the client’s presentation, wellbeing, mobility, cognition or support needs.
• Escalate concerns, incidents and risks promptly.
• Communicate appropriately with Himayat, the referring provider and relevant members of the care team.

Safety and compliance

• Follow the client’s care plan, Himayat procedures and applicable aged-care requirements.
• Apply safe work, infection-control and manual-handling practices.
• Maintain confidentiality and protect the client’s personal information.
• Work within the limits of your training and position.

Essential Requirements

• fluent or highly proficient spoken Serbian, Croatian or Montenegrin;
• previous experience providing aged-care, disability or support-at-home services;
• experience providing personal care;
• a Certificate III or higher in Individual Support, Aged Care, Disability, Community Services or a related field;
• a current First Aid certificate/CPR certification or willingness to obtain one;
• a current ACT Working with Vulnerable People registration;
• a valid Australian driver licence;
• access to a reliable and appropriately insured vehicle;
• the legal right to work in Australia; and
• capacity to commit to two regular three-hour visits each week.

The Person We Are Looking For

• patient and emotionally steady;
• reliable and punctual;
• comfortable providing personal care;
• able to work independently in a client’s home;
• attentive to changes in an older person’s presentation;
• culturally responsive and respectful;
• confident communicating with someone experiencing anxiety or cognitive decline; and
• genuinely available to provide continuity rather than frequently changing shifts.

Hours and Employment

• Casual employment.
• Approximately six hours per week initially.
• Two shifts of approximately three hours each.
• Regular days and times will be agreed with the client and successful applicant.
• Additional shifts may be offered but are not guaranteed.
• Employment conditions and remuneration will be in accordance with the applicable industrial instrument and the employee’s qualifications and experience.

Hours and Employment

• A consistent client assignment rather than constantly changing placements.
• Support from an experienced coordination and management team.
• Work that values cultural knowledge and community-language capability.
• Structured onboarding and access to relevant client information.
• Opportunities for additional work as Himayat’s aged-care and disability services expand.

How to Apply

Your application should clearly state:

• which of the listed languages you speak;
• your level of spoken proficiency;
• your personal-care experience;
• your aged-care or disability-support experience;
• your current screening checks and qualifications; and
• the days and times you are regularly available.

Female applicants are sought for this client-matched position because the role includes personal-care support for a female client and requires consideration of her privacy, dignity and expressed care preferences.