From Family Carer to Carer Lead: How Caring for Her Father-in-Law Changed Stephanie Jones’s Career

Today, on Aged Care Employee Day, Australians are recognising the compassion, dedication and professionalism of the people who care for older members of our community. For Stephanie Jones, the occasion is also a chance to reflect on the personal journey that inspired her career supporting those carers every day.

Stephanie’s father-in-law, Clarry, moved to Australia from the UK in 2011 to live with Stephanie and her family. A former GP who had spent years running his own single-handed medical practice, Clarry embraced retirement through travel, photography and long walks by the sea.

After Clarry’s wife, Eileen, passed away, life changed significantly.

“As Clarry’s needs gradually increased, I was already supporting him with personal care,” Stephanie says. “As Clarry’s mobility decreased, we needed to get an OT assessment and had to learn how to use manual handling equipment. Learning how to support the challenges of managing dementia, behaviour and cognitive function, while also helping him through the grief of losing his wife.”

Like many family carers, Stephanie quickly discovered the emotional and physical demands that can accompany the role. She joined a support group and sought counselling herself, recognising that carers also need support if they are to continue caring for someone else.

Despite the challenges, it is the joyful moments that remain her strongest memories.

Taking Clarry for walks along the coastline using his walker, seeing him surrounded by his grandchildren and sharing music therapy sessions at home became treasured experiences for the whole family.

When Clarry required professional in-home care after a fall, Stephanie saw firsthand the difference carers made, inspiring her to pursue a role where she could support the people providing that care.

“I realised I wanted to make a difference in the industry by supporting carers, recognising the vital role they play in improving people’s lives,” she says.

Today, Stephanie works as a Carer Lead with Prestige Inhome Care, supporting care staff through training, wellbeing initiatives and guidance. While she isn’t a frontline professional carer herself, her lived experience as a family carer gives her a unique understanding of the challenges carers face every day.

“My role is to support our carers to empower them to provide the best possible standard of care to our clients,” she says. “I can relate to being both a Carer, next of kin, client and someone supporting carers as that is part of my role with Prestige Inhome Care.”

Stephanie believes one of the greatest strengths of in-home care is that it allows older Australians to remain where they feel safest and happiest.

“In-home care is unique because clients can remain in their own familiar environment,” she explains. “This allows carers to build meaningful relationships and spend time sharing memories and life experiences with clients in a place where they feel most comfortable.”

She says the qualities that make an outstanding carer extend far beyond practical skills. Excellent communication, reliability and trustworthiness are essential, but equally important are person-centred care, empathy and compassion.

“Someone who understands and respects how others may be feeling. Shows genuine kindness and patience.”

As Australians celebrate Aged Care Employee Day, Stephanie hopes the occasion encourages more people to recognise the extraordinary work carers do behind the scenes. Whether helping someone remain independent at home, offering comfort during life’s most difficult moments or simply taking the time to understand an individual’s routines and preferences, she believes it is often these small acts of kindness that leave the greatest impact.

“Carers are often selfless people, and it takes a very special person to be totally focused on the needs of others. Often it is the small things that make the difference, attention to detail around how someone likes things done in the home.”

For Stephanie, those small acts of care are exactly what she witnessed during Clarry’s final years. Today, they continue to inspire her work supporting the carers who help older Australians live with dignity, independence and connection in the place they call home.