About Our Team
As a family-owned company, The CareSide sprouted from entrepreneurial roots in 2017 with a simple goal: deliver the best home care in Australia at the most affordable prices. Today, we’re a national provider with an ever-growing care footprint, powered by a team of diverse, mission-driven professionals who are sincerely passionate about providing the highest quality care possible.
Charlie Surrey is one of those professionals. Here’s her story.
Charlie’s Resilience
For many university students, part-time work is simply a way to pay the bills. But for Charlie, a psychology and criminology student in her first year of study, her role as a support worker with The CareSide has become much more than that—it’s a meaningful way to give back to people who need it most.
Charlie, who has Tourette syndrome, has always carried a deep sense of empathy for others. Her personal journey with resilience and adversity has shaped how she sees the world and the people in it.
‘Basically, I think because I’ve got Tourette’s, and having that sort of empathy, I’ve learned resilience,’ she says. ‘And with studying psychology, I’ve built an empathy for taking care of other people who are more vulnerable.’
Discovering The CareSide
Charlie first came across The CareSide while searching for a job online. What drew her in wasn’t just the opportunity to work in aged care but the organisation itself—the structure, safety and attention to detail struck her.
‘The CareSide looked like a good, safe working place. With other organisations, there’s no training, and you just get straight into it,’ she explains. ‘The CareSide is very structured and organised, and they told me exactly what I needed to do. They also instructed me, and they checked in on me all the time.’
Charlie also shares how The CareSide’s ‘lovely working environment’ has made a huge difference for her mental health. Now, several months into her role, Charlie already speaks warmly about the connections she’s building with aged care clients.
Connection Beyond Care
When asked what lights her up most about being a support worker, Charlie doesn’t hesitate: it’s the relationships. She describes one of her clients, Lynn, with obvious fondness.
‘I have one client, her name is Lynn. She’s absolutely beautiful and so sweet,’ Charlie says with a smile. ‘Having this comfortable environment that I can go to every day—and that I can call my working environment—it’s amazing.’
Charlie has noticed that while some home care recipients may hesitate to receive in-home support, over time, they grow to appreciate the companionship and practical help.
‘They don’t want their independence taken away—they just want a little support. And I really like doing that,’ she says.
Wisdom & Life Lessons
Working in aged care has given Charlie insights she didn’t expect. Her clients have taught her valuable life lessons, particularly about resilience and self-acceptance.
‘One thing I’ve noticed is that they really don’t care what other people think,’ she shares. ‘All my clients have their own unique characteristics, their own understandings, and their own wisdom of life.’
That wisdom has helped Charlie grow, both as a professional and as a person.
‘It makes me realise that I’m my own person too. They all have their own opinions and perspectives, but what I find so inspiring is that they hold strong to them. Even if I share my opinion, they don’t waver—they stay true to themselves. And I think that’s really powerful,’ she says.
She also appreciates how home care recipients and their families welcome support workers into their lives.
‘They don’t make you feel like just a cleaner or helper. It’s more like companionship, you feel part of something.’
Those positive experiences have defined Charlie’s tenure with The CareSide, so much so that she now speaks confidently about what makes her an effective support worker. To her, adaptability is the most important quality in her role—along with empathy and respect for elder independence.
‘What makes a good support worker is realising and understanding that each person is different,’ she explains. ‘It’s also about letting [home care recipients] do their own thing, and letting them know you’re there for them without taking over.’
Future Goals
Charlie’s role as a Support Worker at The CareSide is a vital stepping stone toward future goals. She dreams of becoming a criminal psychologist, working across prison and mental health facilities, and even opening a clinic one day.
Right now, though, she’s focused on continued learning and establishing a healthy work-life balance. Like many young people juggling multiple roles, Charlie admits that self-care is an ongoing challenge. Shifts with The CareSide, school assignments, and other commitments can swirl together and become overwhelming if she’s not present every day.
That honesty reflects Charlie’s tangible self-awareness—something she’s already applying to her career path and cultivating with her clients. She’s embracing the lessons, flexibility, and purpose that come with being part of The CareSide team, and building the foundation for her future in the process.
