Generations of care: the families behind the hospital walls

10 Jun 2025

Across wards, offices, and departments, it is not unusual to find mothers and daughters swapping mid-shift updates, husbands and wives sharing a quick coffee break, and generations working side-by-side. You do not have to look far to find someone who shares more than just a uniform — they might also share a last name, a dinner table, or even childhood memories.

In a workforce of over 2,500 caregivers, many bonds go beyond professional commitment, strengthened by blood, marriage, and a legacy of care passed down through generations. From nurses and midwives to pharmacists, pastoral practitioners, mailroom attendants, and administration caregivers, families are working side-by-side to care for patients and each other.

Take the Vasquez family for instance; Aris, who coordinates Inpatient Administration Services, works here with his wife Mayette, a nurse on the Orthopaedic Ward, and their three daughters Danielle, Gabrielle, and Jamielle, all of whom have carved their own paths within the hospital. As if that were not enough, Aris and Mayette both have cousins, Joseph and Daniel, who work as nurses on separate wards. That is seven relatives working across multiple departments on the same campus, often carpooling together to work, turning the daily commute into a moment of connection before a busy day begins.

Michele’s family is a shining example of multigenerational service at St John of God Subiaco Hospital. A clinical midwife on the Labour Ward, Michele has devoted 28 years to caring for mothers and babies at Subiaco. Her commitment to health care seems to run in the family, her nieces, Amberley Post, a student midwife, and Madison Post, a registered nurse, both work under the same roof. In addition, Michele’s sister, Marnie, works as a medical receptionist for one of the hospital’s specialist surgeons, Dr Corinne Jones. Remarkably, every one of them was born at the hospital, making their connection truly full circle. For this family, St John of God Subiaco Hospital is a constant presence in their lives, with each generation contributing to its ongoing care and service.

For many, the hospital has become more than just a workplace, it is a second home. Suzie Kelly, postnatal Clinical Nurse Manager Maternity Services, says one of the best parts of working near her daughter, a graduate nurse on the Surgical Ward, is the unexpected bonus of shared lunches and car rides.

“She’d say the best thing is getting a free lift every day,” Suzie laughs. “But it’s also a really lovely way to spend time together.”

Others share similar stories. Midwife Jennifer works at St John of God Subiaco Hospital with her daughter, who is employed as a nurse, while Felicity, a midwife in the Pregnancy, Baby and Beyond Clinic, has her nephew in Pharmacy and his father a nurse. There is nurse Kathy, and midwives Kristy and Rhonda, who each have a daughter who works at the hospital. There are husband and wife teams like Maria and Michael, or Rani and Jo in theatre. Together, they reflect the strong family ties that shape daily life across the hospital.

Some families, like Teresa Thompson’s, tell a story of legacy. Teresa graduated from the hospital’s general school in 1986 and completed her midwifery training at the hospital in 1992. Now, both of her daughters are part of the team. Claudia has just finished her graduate program and is now a registered nurse on the Surgical Care Ward, and Eliza in hospitality at the Pomegranate Café. 

“It’s wonderful to watch them find their place in the same halls where I once trained,” Teresa shares.

The presence of families working together is a valued and unique part of our hospital community, reflecting a strong sense of connection and loyalty to the hospital, not just as a workplace, but somewhere people feel proud to stay and creating lasting relationships.

It is not just about proximity — it is about legacy, Values, and a shared Mission that spans generations. As more families find their way to St John of God Subiaco Hospital, one thing becomes clear, the heart of this hospital does not beat in any one ward, it beats through the people who have chosen to build their lives and their careers here, together.