Retirement village delivers Bellarine job bonanza

THE opening of a new retirement village in Ocean Grove has sparked a Bellarine job bonanza with more than 50 new jobs created and coming online this month.

Ryman Healthcare’s Deborah Cheetham Retirement Village on Shell Road in Ocean Grove has recently completed a months-long recruitment drive to staff its new aged care and support service centre.

The jobs span an array of roles including nurses, carers, hospitality staff, activity and lifestyle coordinators, gardeners, maintenance and administration.

Among the new recruits is Ocean Grove local Colin Cooper, who is taking up a role as a van driver after a long career in the corporate sphere.

Mr Cooper said working for a values-based organisation with a positive purpose really attracted him to searching for a role at the new facility.

“I spent around 40 years in corporate life and just on 12 months ago I walked away to look for a more balanced lifestyle.

“I was looking for some part time work and I was looking for some work that had a bit of purpose and a bit of meaning about it.

“I saw this and I thought, ‘this looks amazing’ because it suits me perfectly in terms of the hours and the flexibility, but also the fact you’re working with people that you can actually make a difference to their day.

“I feel a part of the team already, the induction process and recruitment process has been pretty awesome.”

The village will be home to around 360 residents and offer a mix of independent retirement living, assisted living in serviced apartments as well as a 120-bed aged care centre.

Ryman Healthcare recruitment manager Lisa Grantham said the team have been blown away with the calibre of locals who have applied for roles thus far.

“At Ryman we’re looking for the right kind of people first and foremost, with a real emphasis on ‘kind’.

“This community is absolutely overflowing with people who are talented, kind, and who want to work at a place with a real purpose.”

Mrs Grantham said more roles will become available as more residents move in over the coming months.

For more, head to www.rymanhealthcare.com.au/retirement-villages/bellarine-peninsula/deborah-cheetham