Every morning at SummitCare Wallsend, before the day begins in full swing, you’ll often find Rombek greeting residents with a warm smile and a helping hand. As an Assistant in Nursing (AIN), he plays a vital role in supporting residents with their personal care and ensuring their comfort throughout the day.
“The first thing I do when I come to work in the morning is I try to assist the residents with their personal care needs,” he explained. “That might include helping them brush their teeth, giving them a shower, or assisting with dressing. Then after that breakfast is around 8am to 8:30am, and then I continue helping with personal care duties that the residents might have.”
Originally from South Sudan, Rombek has been part of the SummitCare Wallsend family for over four years. He says it’s the community’s diversity and inclusivity that make it such a special place to work. “I like it here. I especially like the multicultural aspect of the residents. SummitCare seems to be more multicultural,” he shared with a smile.
Before joining SummitCare, Rombek built an impressive career in both aged care and accounting. “I worked for another aged care facility for eight and a half years,” he recalled. “After that, I got an accounting role, but when the owner decided to outsource a lot of our roles, I lost that job. That’s when I decided to go back into aged care.”
It was through a family connection that he found his way to SummitCare. “My wife worked here before,” he said. “That’s how I came to know about SummitCare.”
Outside of work, Rombek’s curiosity and creativity keep him busy. “I like to research stuff that interests me,” he said. “I’m also interested in languages, especially the ones spoken in my home country.” But one of his newest passions is music, specifically playing the ukulele.
“I’ve been playing for just over six months,” he said proudly. “I saw some people playing it, and here at SummitCare there’s an external entertainer who comes and plays their ukulele to the residents. I’ve also seen it at my church. It sparked my interest because I also play the guitar a little bit, so it's similar in ways.” He’s mostly self-taught, learning by listening and experimenting. “I watch some videos on it,” he admits, “but I mostly play by ear.”
When asked what he enjoys most about his work, his answer comes easily, “My favourite thing is teamwork,” he said. “The staff working together and the positive environment that the staff have created.”
With his caring nature, passion for learning, and gentle spirit, Rombek brings both skill and warmth to the SummitCare community.
