Happy 10th Birthday to Elizabeth Jenkins Place Aged Care Centre

Soham Ashok Padsala has been the Centre Manager of Elizabeth Jenkins Place Aged Care Centre (“Elizabeth Jenkins Place”) since January 2022 and notes that the most rewarding aspect of his role is seeing the Centre grow and ensuring a good quality of life for the residents. During his time as Centre Manager, Soham has continued to strengthen the strong practices across Elizabeth Jenkins Place, and his efforts were reflected in the Centre’s recent accreditation. “It was quite rewarding for us and to achieve such a high level of compliance," he says. "That was important for us and for our residents as well, so that they trust that our staff are providing the care which they require and that it is an exemplary standard of care.”  

This year, Elizabeth Jenkins Place will celebrate its ten-year anniversary, with the build of the Centre completed in June 2013 and the Centre opening its doors to residents in September of that year. Soham acknowledges that the anniversary is not just a significant day for the Centre, but for the wider Northern Beaches community. “It has been 10 years since Elizabeth Jenkins Place first opened, but it has been more than that for The Salvation Army’s presence in Collaroy,” he says. “They have been a part of the Northern Beaches community for a very long time, and it just gives us immense pride that we are still serving them to this day.”  

Major June Cardew has been one of the two Chaplains at the Centre for two and a half years now. “My role here involves many aspects, but it is to connect with the residents spiritually and emotionally; whatever that looks like for them, bringing meaning and purpose to their lives,” she says. Major June most enjoys being part of the “bigger picture” at the Centre. “We all have our parts to play as a team, which I enjoy,” she explains. “I like the diversity of the Centre, and the team environment. My work is rewarding, especially when I see residents living with dementia come to life, through singing, or just chatting to them.” 

For the Centre’s other Chaplain, Captain Craig Harlum, he notes that his time at the Centre has changed his ministry significantly. “I’m finding that God is everywhere, and to actually notice that has really impacted my ministry and my own life,” he says. Captain Craig explains that what he has most enjoyed is connecting with residents: “Meeting the residents and getting to know them and building rapport with them.”  

Lifestyle Coordinator Maria Pristas has been at the Centre since it opened, and she say that watching the site evolve over time has been a joy and a privilege. When reflecting on what Maria finds most rewarding about her role, she notes it’s the residents and people. “I enjoy working with the elderly and providing them with activities to bring joy and happiness into their lives,” she states.