When Rachel joined Sundale 12 years ago as a kitchen assistant at James Grimes Care Centre, she had no idea it would be the beginning of a long career in hospitality. What started with delivering trays and afternoon teas to residents has grown into a leadership role shaping the dining experience across Sundale’s communities.
Rachel’s career has spanned rostering, clinical governance and food safety before she was appointed Hospitality Services Manager in 2024. She credits supportive leaders for encouraging her to step into new roles. “I’ve always had managers who believed in me and gave me the confidence to grow,” Rachel says.
Food is central to Sundale’s ‘feel at home’ ethos, offering comfort, dignity and connection. Every meal is prepared fresh on site, using local produce wherever possible and residents are actively involved in shaping menus.
“Residents love home-cooked meals,” Rachel explains. “We talk about food as a team and with the residents. It’s open and collaborative, and they tell us what they like and don’t like so we adapt. That’s how you make it feel like home.”
Menus are designed with dietitians to ensure nutrition and compliance, but without compromising taste or presentation. Cultural preferences, dietary needs and individual choices are respected and families are welcome to share meals with their loved ones.
Across Sundale, approximately 400,000 meals are prepared each year – breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning and afternoon tea, as well as after dinner snacks – each one a chance to provide nourishment and a sense of home.
Mealtimes are also an opportunity for connection and the communal dining options provided by Sundale encourage conversations and friendship.
Just over a year into her leadership role, Rachel is excited about the future. She is overseeing new menu development, strengthening local supplier partnerships and continuing to champion mealtimes as a cornerstone of Sundale’s approach to customer experience and care.
“For me, the best part is hearing residents say how much they enjoy the food and the kindness of the staff. We encourage all feedback and that makes the difference,” she says.
From her first tray service to now leading hospitality across Sundale, Rachel’s story exemplifies what makes Sundale unique: strong career pathways for its people and a commitment to food that is more than nourishment, it’s comfort, community and feeling at home.
