You are ACE! spotlights

But his journey into the sector was sparked by something far more personal: his father’s sudden dementia diagnosis.

Born in Bosnia, Asmir grew up in a culture where caring for ageing parents is expected and deeply valued. “Where we come from, we usually take care of our elders instead of sending them to aged care places,” he said.

So when his father became unwell, Asmir and his brother decided they would look after him at home. The brothers lived only three houses apart and had always been close, but caring for someone with dementia brought new challenges neither had faced before.

Doctors urged Asmir to seek training, warning him that dementia care required specialist knowledge and skills. Without hesitation, he put his career on hold and enrolled in a support worker course, hoping simply to become better equipped to care for his father.

The course included a three-week placement and it was there that his life changed.

“What started as a way to support my dad became something I fell in love with,” he said. “I saw a different side of life, a different side of support. It wasn’t just about helping my dad anymore, I realised I could help other people too.”

Within a week of his placement, the general manager pulled him aside and offered him a job. Asmir accepted and quickly became known as someone with exceptional compassion and commitment.

When his initial aged care home restructured, he moved to Berwick Aged Care and continued to grow in the role for over three years. Colleagues encouraged him to go furthersaid.

Balancing work, study, his own family and the ongoing care of his father wasn’t easy.

But Asmir continued, believing that becoming a nurse would allow him to better understand dementia and provide even higher-quality care. Three months before finishing his nursing qualification, his father passed away.

Although devastated, Asmir remained in aged care. “I decided to stay in the field and keep going, because I loved what I was doing,” he said.

He has since worked across several aged care homes, gaining experience and insight into the varying pressures staff face. One of his biggest concerns is the lack of time nurses have to spend with residents. He hopes current reforms will free nurses to focus on meaningful engagement rather than only clinical tasks.

“As a support worker, I had so much more time with residents,” he explained. “As a nurse, it becomes more of a chore with doing medications, tasks, then moving on. But what people really need is someone to sit with them, even for five minutes, listen to their stories, share a coffee. That’s what makes the biggest difference.”

For Asmir, aged care is about dignity and easing loneliness. “It’s a lonely world out there for many elderly people,” he said. “Sometimes just seeing your face for half an hour can make their whole day.”

Amir was a finalist in Ageing Australia’s You Are ACE! Awards 2025, which recognise outstanding individuals, teams and organisations who exemplify excellence in aged care, retirement living and seniors housing across Australia. Nominations are now open for the 2026 awards.