About
Experienced Health Care Assistant with 15 years of healthcare experience across home and community care, acute care, long-term care, dementia care, rural healthcare, and complex in-home support. Extensive experience working in small and remote Vancouver Island communities and in and alongside First Nations communities. Skilled in relationship-based and person-centred care, personal care and activities of daily living, complex medical support, de-escalation, documentation, and supporting clients to maintain independence and remain safely in their own homes. Recently completed a two-year counselling program, adding further training in trauma-informed practice, communication, de-escalation, boundaries, and culturally safe care.
Skills
- client advocacy
- Dementia care
Experience
Health Care Assistant
Island Health
Jan 2021 to Present
Trillium Lodge, Parksville, BC
• Worked primarily full-time night shifts in long-term care supporting residents with a broad range of physical, cognitive, and complex care needs. • Provided personal care, repositioning, mobility assistance, continence care, comfort measures, and assistance with activities of daily living. • Supported residents living with dementia and other cognitive changes using calm, respectful, person-centred approaches. • Responded to changing resident needs and urgent situations during overnight shifts while working collaboratively with nursing staff. • Built long-term relationships with residents and families and supported dignity, autonomy, and quality of life.
Health Care Assistant / Stores Attendant
Island Health
Jan 2021 to Jan 2023
Oceanside Urgent Care Centre, Parksville, BC
• Supported clinical teams within a busy urgent-care environment. • Assisted with patient care, transfers, mobility, stocking, equipment, supplies, and unit operations. • Worked closely with nurses, physicians, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals. • Developed additional experience with medical office processes, clinical supplies, and the operational side of healthcare delivery. • Adapted quickly to changing priorities and patient needs in a fast-paced setting.
Health Care Assistant
Nurse Next Door
Jan 2019 to Jan 2020
Port Hardy, BC
• Provided individualized in-home care, including ongoing support for a client living on reserve who required peritoneal dialysis. • Assisted with complex daily care needs while supporting the client’s independence and ability to remain at home. • Developed a strong, trusting relationship with the client and family through consistent, respectful care. • Worked independently in a home environment while maintaining professional boundaries, accurate documentation, and communication with the broader care team. • Provided support responsive to the client’s routines, family relationships, preferences, and community context.
Health Care Assistant
Island Health
Jan 2015 to Jan 2019
Alert Bay Hospital, Alert Bay, BC
• Provided healthcare support in the small and remote community of Alert Bay. • Worked closely with First Nations patients, families, and community members. • Provided personal care, mobility and ADL assistance, comfort measures, and general patient support. • Developed meaningful relationships within the community and gained experience providing healthcare in a setting where cultural awareness, trust, and community relationships were central to effective care. • Worked within a rural interdisciplinary healthcare team with limited local resources.
Health Care Assistant
Island Health
Jan 2014 to Present
Port Hardy Hospital / North Island, BC
• Provided HCA support in a rural healthcare environment serving Port Hardy and surrounding North Island communities. • Worked closely with clients and families from First Nations communities throughout the region. • Supported patients with personal care, mobility, activities of daily living, comfort, safety, and other care needs within the HCA scope of practice. • Developed strong experience working in smaller communities where trust, relationships, discretion, and continuity of care are especially important. • Worked collaboratively with nurses, physicians, allied health professionals, and other members of interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
Forestry / Marine Operations
Not stated
Jan 2013 to Jan 2015
Bella Bella, BC
• Lived and worked in the Bella Bella community for approximately one year while employed in forestry and marine-related work. Continued working three months shifts from the boat after Bella Bella. • Worked under a forest engineer, with responsibilities that included identifying culturally modified trees and culturally significant areas so appropriate protective areas could be established around them. • Gained experience working in remote coastal environments where local knowledge, safety, environmental responsibility, and respect for culturally significant areas were essential.
Live-In Caregiver
Not stated
Jan 2012 to Jan 2014
Kelowna British Columbia
• Provided intensive live-in support to a high-needs adult with autism. • Assisted with daily routines, personal care, behavioural and emotional regulation, community participation, and household needs. • Worked with oversight and guidance from a semi-retired Registered Nurse. • Developed early experience in long-term relationship-based care, consistency, de-escalation, and supporting independence.
Health Care Assistant
Pine Acres Home
Jan 2011 to Jan 2013
Westbank First Nation, BC
• Began healthcare career providing residential and dementia care at Pine Acres Home on Westbank First Nation. • Supported Elders and other residents with personal care, mobility, activities of daily living, meals, comfort, and social needs. • Worked with residents experiencing dementia and complex age-related care needs. • Gained early experience working within a First Nation-operated care environment and supporting culturally respectful, person-centred care. • Built foundational skills in Elder care, communication, dignity, patience, and relationship-based caregiving.
Education
Stenberg College
Counselling Diploma, Professional counselling
2026
Two-year professional counselling program with training in: • Trauma-informed practice • Therapeutic communication • Crisis intervention and de-escalation • Professional ethics and boundaries • Mental-health support • Cultural humility • Client-centred and strengths-based approaches
Sprott Shaw Community College
Health Care Assistant Education
2011
Licences & certifications
Health Care Assistant registration / certification
CPR/ First Aid
Food Safe
WHIMIS
San’Yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training