02/11/2025
Wilsana joined Christian Homes Tasmania in 2021 as a casual Extended Care Assistant, working across Hawthorn and Snug Village.
"I started in 2021 as a casual Extended Care Assistant in both sites and slowly became permanent," she says. "Then, in 2023, there was a fixed-term reception role available, so I joined here. Shortly after that, this finance role became available, and I moved into it."
Wilsana completed her Master of Professional Accounting at the Australian Catholic University in Melbourne. Her academic background and hands-on experience have come together in her current role as Finance and Payroll Officer.
"I look over operational activities of finance, help with payroll, residential and home care agreements and contracts, and assist residents with queries regarding their accounts," she explains. "It's more about the overall administrative financial tasks, data entry on accounts receivable and payable. I love numbers, finance and accounting; it's what I enjoy most in my role."
Moving from direct care into finance has given Wilsana a unique perspective on CHT's work. She says the journey has been one of growth and opportunity.
"I worked as an Extended Care Assistant and then slowly grew up to Finance and Payroll Officer," she says. "CHT has given me lots of opportunities and helped me grow a lot. This role has helped me broaden the horizon of my knowledge on the Aged Care sector, and every day there is something new to learn."
Before moving into finance, Wilsana's time as a carer helped her form meaningful connections with residents. Without grandparents of her own, she found a sense of family in her work.
"I didn't have grandparents, so I used to think, if my grandparents were there, it would be like this — how we would communicate, what the generational gaps would be like, where we could exchange knowledge and experiences. They used to share their stories of life experiences, and we used to assist them with the use of new technologies like TV, mobiles and even social media," she reflects. "Working as an ECA made me feel like I was among grandparents. It helped me see the world from their perspective, because we're from different generations, and the world looks very different through their eyes. They make me feel that life can be beautiful and enjoyable even without advanced technologies."
