At 20 years old, Mel Staunton is making an impact both on and off the field.
AUGUST 28, 2025: GEELONG, VIC. Mel Staunton, who is balancing life as captain of the Geelong Cats VFLW and part-time in home care work for Mercy Health, with client JUNE Meaney in Geelong, Victoria. (Photo by Alison Wynd / Newspix)
As captain of the Geelong Cats VFLW team, Mel is used to supporting those around her. Away from football, she brings that same commitment to her work with Mercy Health Home Care, helping older Australians remain independent and engaged in the communities they call home.
What began as a flexible role that fit around her football commitments quickly became something much more meaningful.
“I originally took the job because it suited my lifestyle,” Mel says. “But once I started meeting the clients, I just loved it.”
Today, she spends her days supporting older people to continue living at home while building relationships that have had a lasting impact on her own life.
One client who has made a particular impression is 95-year-old June.
“From the first visit, we just clicked,” Mel says. “She’s such a good storyteller.”
Their conversations often stretch far beyond daily tasks, touching on family, friendships and memories gathered over a lifetime. While separated by more than 70 years in age, the pair have developed a genuine connection built on mutual respect and shared conversation.
“It’s amazing listening to their stories,” Mel says. “You learn so much from them.”
For Mel, these friendships are one of the most rewarding aspects of her work. They also highlight the power of intergenerational connection, where both older and younger people benefit from spending time together and learning from one another.
Many of the people Mel supports want to remain living in the comfort of their own homes for as long as possible. Staying close to familiar surroundings, neighbours and routines can play an important role in maintaining wellbeing and independence.
Mel sees first-hand how the right support can help make that possible.
“You can tell how important it is for people to stay in their own home,” she says. “Sometimes the little things make the biggest difference.”
Whether it’s helping someone maintain their daily routine or simply providing regular social connection, those small moments can have a meaningful impact on a person’s quality of life. Through Mercy Health Home Care, older Australians can access personalised support designed to help them continue living independently at home.
Mel’s passion for supporting older people is also deeply personal.
Growing up, she watched her grandparents navigate the challenges of ageing in a rural community where support services were not always easy to access. The experience helped her appreciate the importance of having the right support in place, both for older people and for the families who care about them.
“If I can help someone else’s family, that’s really rewarding,” she says.
Knowing that every person’s needs are different has also reinforced the value of a personalised approach to care that supports wellbeing, independence and meaningful connections.
While home care may not be a career many young people immediately consider, Mel believes it offers opportunities that are hard to find elsewhere.
“It’s not a job you hear many 20-year-olds doing,” she says. “But I don’t even see it as work. I come home every day feeling like I’ve given back.”
Image credit: Alison Wynd
