A caring nature drives a fulfilling career
Meeting new people and ensuring they receive the care they need is a passion that has driven Heidi Wiebe throughout her career.
A registered nurse from Canada, Heidi has brought her passion and experience of supporting older people in the later stages of life with her to APM.
“Some of the best conversations I’ve had in my career have been with older adults at 3am, there’s something magical about those early hours and the wisdom they can impart,” Heidi says.
As National Service Delivery Manager in our Residential Aged Care Assessments team (RACA) Heidi is a friendly face for both clients and the teams of assessors she leads.
Part of APM Communities and Assessment Services, the RACA team undertakes assessments of residents in aged care homes, which are then used by the Federal Government’s Department of Health and Aged Care for funding allocations. APM holds the contract for these assessments in 44 regions across Australia.
“Our team has great coverage across the country, including many remote and regional areas. Once a referral comes in for someone who’s just moved into an aged care home, or a resident whose circumstances may have changed, we send an assessor out to help understand their care needs and their capabilities.
Our assessors are registered nurses, occupational therapists and physios, all exceptionally committed to getting the assessment right the first time, as this has such an important impact on both the resident and the aged care provider.”
APM’s work in the aged care sector has evolved significantly in recent years and in her new role at National Service Delivery Manager, Heidi has experienced a positive approach, setting teams up for success since first joining as a Regional Manager, looking after teams of assessors in Queensland and New South Wales in 2021.
“From HR, through to IT, and everything in-between, there has been a genuine personal commitment from so many people to drive the business forward, and to being flexible and nimble when the situation required it.”
While Heidi enjoys working to make sure our RACA program is delivered efficiently and effectively, she still loves getting out on the road and spending time with assessors and residents.
“We’re often another new face to them in what can be a daunting time. I’m fortunate to work with such a caring, professional team who uses their skills, knowledge and judgement to have an effective conversations with residents who may be experiencing cognitive or physical decline.”
Much of Heidi’s nursing career was focused on aged care, which has been both fulfilling and rewarding.
“Both in this role and others, I’m feel very fortunate to be giving something back and making a difference for our older Australians.”
If you have a passion for delivering important care that will help to enable better lives for older Australians, explore open roles at APM Assessment Services.
