Who cares? Amy does!

They say most teenagers don’t know what they want in life, but 17-year-old graduating high school student, Amy Jones, isn’t one of them.

Amy was yesterday (Thursday, 8 December 2011) awarded Western Australian-based aged and community care provider, Silver Chain’s ‘Caring in the Community Award’ for providing voluntary care to her local aged care facility as part of this year’s Young People Who Care Awards.

Amy was nominated for the Caring in the Community Award by Australind High School’s, John Hammett, who describes Amy as “a fine example” of a young person who cares about others and demonstrates maturity “beyond her years”.

But the award is not the only achievement to make Amy smile from ear to ear – the bubbly teenager is now training to become a relief therapy assistant at the facility.

“I’ve fallen in love with it,” Amy confesses. “I’ve always been around little kids, so it is a good change to be able to go into a different atmosphere. The way the residents treat you when they see someone new is priceless,” she adds.

Before securing the job, Amy volunteered two days a week at the facility’s therapy and dementia departments. She now provides assistance with occupational therapy and physiotherapy programs for residents and helps to organise various social events and activities.

While surrounding herself with dementia-affected residents can be challenging, Amy has an important and wise message to tell.

“They are starting to lose their minds and forgetting a lot of things… but we have to remember they are still humans with a body and mind,” she says, adding she enjoys talking to residents about life and history.

“I’m a bit of a history buff, so when the residents talk about their schooling years and the way they used to live, it just fascinates me… it’s hard to describe in words.

“The residents are just so friendly and loveable. When you smile at them, they just smile back, and that’s amazing.”

The Young People Who Care Awards recognise exceptional young Western Australians, aged between 10 and 18 years, who provide voluntary care to others. Amy was joined by other Caring in the Community Award finalists Dana Laurens of Kalgan, Megan Whisler of Pinjarra, Paula Velhi of Mount Pleasant and Samuel Landro of East Fremantle.