Skip to content
Dean Bonnici, Exercise Physiologist

Promoting customer independence

For Dean, aged care works

Having a customer no longer require one-on-one support is the most rewarding part of Dean Bonnici’s job as an Exercise Physiologist at ACH Group.

In Dean’s world, having a customer regain their strength, fitness, or mobility is the grail.

“What I want is for customers to be able to continue their health journey on their own terms,” he said.

“This can be at a health studio or with a sporting club or even just keeping busy in the garden or shed at home.

“Every so often, I’ll see someone in the health studio or out walking in the community and it gives me so much satisfaction seeing how far they’ve come.”

As an exercise physiologist, Dean has spent a lot of time with friends and customers explaining what the role means.

However, recently, he said there is becoming a better overall understanding of the vital work exercise physiologists do in keeping people healthy and active.

“The way I’ve started to describe it is that exercise physiologists treat exercise similarly to medicine,” he said.

“Customers can benefit from certain types of exercise in certain frequencies in the same way different types of medicines in different dosages do.

“My job is to work with the customer to find the right balance of exercise types and frequency to support them to reach their goals.”

In addition to working to develop tailored exercise plans for customers, Dean also works with people who require greater one on one support.

“I work a lot with people who just aren’t in a position to be able to participate in a group gym class,” he said.

“The goal of the work I do is to support them at the functional level to support them to get back to being able to do the things they previously struggled to achieve.

“Most of the time our work is about incremental improvement moving towards a goal that is always set by the customer.”

Dean said one of the most rewarding parts of his job was working with a team of ACH Group allied health staff to deliver the best outcomes for customers.

“We really are a team. Our customers will see me, they will see a physiotherapist, they may see a dietitian and we all work together in the best interests of the customer,” he said.

With ACH Group, you make a real difference to older people’s lives – and your own.

ACH Group has more than 200 unique roles across care, nursing, allied health, administration, maintenance, corporate and hospitality teams.

Learn about career development at ACH Group as staff share their career stories, showcasing how their experiences lead to fulfilling careers dedicated to supporting people to live good lives.

Join ACH Group and support older people to live good lives – while making your mark on the people within.

Print or Share

Home Care Packages

Good Lives Magazine

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
7 hours ago

ACH Group celebrates Luisa's two decades of volunteering 🥳🎨🤩

Luisa Centofanti has just chalked up a remarkable 20 years of volunteering at Milpara Residential Aged Care Home – and she’s not done yet.

Having walked into Milpara as a volunteer for the first time on February 4, 2005, Luisa has spent countless hours supporting residents with cooking, art and gardening activities.

She said she gets out as much as she puts in and hopes she still has another five years left in her.

“The mind is still willing it is just as long as the body is able,” she laughed.

“It is the people that keeps you coming back – there is no better feeling than spending your time to make other people feel good.” 💚

ACH Group Volunteer Services Manager Charlotte Carmody said Luisa’s tenure as a volunteer was quite extraordinary.

"If you ever needed to see the power of volunteering and the impact one person can make you only need to look at Luisa,” she said.

“20 years is an incredible milestone and just goes to show how volunteering can get under your skin and become a lifelong passion.

“Across ACH Group we have more than 120 remarkable volunteers who, like Luisa, do such much to foster companionship and support social connection.”

Thinking of volunteering? ACH Group offers volunteering opportunities within our community, residential, social, health, and housing programs and services as well as special events. You can register to become an ACH Group volunteer by visiting: bit.ly/3EHvmZa

Captured in these photos, Luisa is seen with Art Lead Sylvia Reitenbach in Milpara’s Art Room, sharing a moment with Bessie, one of Milpara’s talented artists, and with Charlotte Carmody, Volunteer Services Manager.
... See MoreSee Less

ACH Group celebrates Luisas two decades of volunteering 🥳🎨🤩

Luisa Centofanti has just chalked up a remarkable 20 years of volunteering at Milpara Residential Aged Care Home – and she’s not done yet.

Having walked into Milpara as a volunteer for the first time on February 4, 2005, Luisa has spent countless hours supporting residents with cooking, art and gardening activities.

She said she gets out as much as she puts in and hopes she still has another five years left in her.

“The mind is still willing it is just as long as the body is able,” she laughed.
 
“It is the people that keeps you coming back – there is no better feeling than spending your time to make other people feel good.” 💚

ACH Group Volunteer Services Manager Charlotte Carmody said Luisa’s tenure as a volunteer was quite extraordinary.

If you ever needed to see the power of volunteering and the impact one person can make you only need to look at Luisa,” she said.

“20 years is an incredible milestone and just goes to show how volunteering can get under your skin and become a lifelong passion. 

“Across ACH Group we have more than 120 remarkable volunteers who, like Luisa, do such much to foster companionship and support social connection.”

Thinking of volunteering? ACH Group offers volunteering opportunities within our community, residential, social, health, and housing programs and services as well as special events. You can register to become an ACH Group volunteer by visiting: https://bit.ly/3EHvmZa 

Captured in these photos, Luisa is seen with Art Lead Sylvia Reitenbach in Milpara’s Art Room, sharing a moment with Bessie, one of Milpara’s talented artists, and with Charlotte Carmody, Volunteer Services Manager.Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

4 CommentsComment on Facebook

An amazing contribution to ACH Group! You are indeed supporting good lives for older people Luisa! 🌸

Awesome job Luisa! 🤩