Having a purpose in our careers can help give us that much-needed motivation and meaning in our lives knowing that our work and contributions are making a positive impact in the lives of others. While some are lucky enough to already have that purpose, many of us are still searching for that opportunity to create, nurture and build something that will Make a Difference.
For Lauren and Glen, working with purpose meant helping those most vulnerable people in their community by launching the first-ever Nurse Next Door Home Care franchise in Australia back in 2020.
We sat down with Lauren & Glen to learn more about their story:
What motivated you to become business owners?
Glen – We knew that we always wanted to work together and capitalise on the skills that we had developed from working in various service industries and leadership roles.
We’ve successfully worked together before but, this time we wanted to put our own stamp on something and say “This is our business.”
Lauren – After being a stay-at-home mum for 8 years, I wanted to return to the workforce; I enjoy working. I come from residential aged care and it was an area that I was really passionate about. I enjoy working with people but, as much as I loved the residents there, my role felt very task-based and I didn’t have that opportunity to connect with people the way I wanted to.
After being a stay-at-home mum for 8 years, I knew I wanted to do something where I could help and connect with people in the aged care and disability sectors on my own terms rather than working in a task-based role.
Why did you choose the home care industry?
Lauren – We really love people, and we really love helping people. My grandmother lived at home until she was 95, she was fiercely independent, and I remember seeing her caregivers come in to take care of her. I really admired how they worked with her and it really made me see what home care was about. It was person-centred and promoted choice in their own home.
Seeing how my grandmother’s caregivers helped her live independently at home until she was 95 is what inspired me to start looking at how we can build a business in the home care industry that has a really strong focus on service and giving choice back to clients.
Glen – A passion for caring and a passion for people is important and based on our experience it made sense for us, personally and professionally, to be in this industry because of the opportunities.
With the ageing population continuously growing in Australia, we also looked at home care from a demand perspective and could see how sustainable this business can be in the long-term with the ups and downs in the economy.
Lauren – We also both have an unyielding passion for people with disabilities. We wanted to promote inclusiveness for everybody in our local community regardless of their age or ability. Gold Coast already has such a strong sense of community and we just thought “how good would it be to have more people from all backgrounds participate in our community.”
Why did you choose to join Nurse Next Door as a franchise owner to launch and build your home care business?
Glen- We did look out for other opportunities, and also starting from scratch, but what stood out with Nurse Next Door was the bold pink brand image which really gave such a fresh approach to the home care industry and market. The systems and policies that underpin the business were also around for over 20 years in North America and were far better than anything else that we saw.
The bold pink brand, the service-oriented approach and the world-class systems resonated and already represented our business goals. We saw that alignment and took a leap of faith.
Lauren- We had quite an intensive training programme during Immersions Week, which gave me the training I needed to learn the systems that would help me launch and grow my business.
Two years into our business now and we continually get that ongoing support from all the experts and HeartQuarters including monthly meetings with our Business Performance Coach.
As our business has changed and grown exponentially over the last two years, we noticed how the systems and processes in place were adaptable and scalable.
Glen- To add to that, in our day-to-day operations having the Care Services team support us with scheduling, intakes and enquiries take a lot of pressure off us as a business.
Knowing that the operational side of the business is all taken care of by the 24/7 Care Services Team means that we can focus on our clients and staff.
What is your most memorable moment as a Nurse Next Door franchise owner?
Lauren- I have a lot of contact with our clients and have so many stories to tell that it’s really hard to pick one. A recent moment that really stood out for me was a client who hadn’t left home in 3 years and was becoming really depressed. Our visits were more about just being there to spend time with her and having that companionship care.
Our client went from feeling isolated to requesting more visits because we were able to give her the care and company she needed. She is now more open to people in general and genuinely trusts us to help look after her, that really warms my heart.
Glen- Our first ever client, who’s still a current client with us, is in the progressed stages of Huntington’s disease and before Nurse Next Door this particular client never had the continuity of care he needed for over 13 years. The fact that we have been able to stay with him for over two years now, and see him thrive is so special.
In addition to the care we provide, we’ve been able to help our client facilitate a move into a one-bedroom apartment and helped fulfil his wish of going to the beach. One of the best parts of this business for me is seeing him smile.
What are the benefits of being your own boss as a Nurse Next Door franchise owner?
Glen- From a business perspective, we have the opportunity to Make a Difference. It is hard work but it’s very fulfilling work that we know we are impacting the community.
From a personal perspective, for me, even though we are running a busy business we still have more time with our kids. For the first 5 years of my son’s schooling, I never had the chance to pick him up or drop him off at school and now I can.
Being present with my kids and my family, and having the opportunity to spend more time together really means a lot to me.
Lauren- Being able to be home and work with my partner in an industry that we are both so passionate about, rather than driving into an office is such a benefit for me.
Having the freedom and flexibility to work together and build something special together really motivates me to keep growing this business so we can keep Making Lives Better in the Gold Coast Community.
With a core purpose of Making Lives Better®, Nurse Next Door, under the leadership of Melbourne-based Master Franchisors Matt Fitton and Amber Biesse, provides in-home aged care and disability support services built on our philosophy of Happier Ageing® focusing on possibility rather than disability.
