IVEY SPOTLIGHT: Amanda Hack

One of the core values that each member of IVEY demonstrates is passion. We all have our own “why” that underlines our purpose in working with newcomers and immigrants, and our passion is reflected in the work we do and the care we have for our clients, candidates and team members.

For Amanda, her “why” inspired us to continue growing our business and branch out into a new industry that focuses on a staffing crisis that is currently affecting long-term care homes across Ontario: the PSW shortage.

Meet Amanda Hack

Amanda Hack has been a healthcare professional for over 20 years. She graduated from Cambrian College as a Personal Support Worker (PSW) and after 5 years in the field, she continued her education to become a Primary Care Paramedic — working as both a Paramedic and a PSW for several years.

After gaining valuable work experience and insight, Amanda launched a staffing agency that provided PSWs and Nurses as supplemental workers to long term care facilities. Throughout her career, Amanda also opened and operated a Medi Spa, and was the Director for a local home health care company where she created a staffing division and used her expertise to train and orient new employees into the company.

In 2019, Amanda once again continued her education and completed a Bachelor’s degree in Health Administration. Her passion for health care and knowledge was truly reflected in the continuation of her education, as she thrived to know as much as she could to be able to help the people and facilities that she had grown to love.

While the human body was always intriguing to her, being compassionate and caring was ingrained in her values, and were shone with each new job opportunity, career move and life that she impacted.

What advice could you offer those hoping to become a PSW?

Like many jobs, the career of a PSW comes with its challenges. Shift work with a family can be difficult, as well as the physical demands of the job. Amanda’s advice for those looking to become a PSW however, is to not look at this career as just a “job”. A PSW is an important player in the health care industry. They have complete interaction with their clients — often more than the families — and the job is all-encompassing. The impact these health care workers get to make on the lives of the patients they care for is truly amazing. Your demeanor and attitude will have a direct impact on your clients day, so being kind, compassionate and simply smiling makes a big difference in the lives of patients.

Why would you recommend that people apply for PSW jobs in Ontario?

Amanda sees being a PSW as having a passion for people. Personal support work is such a rewarding career — knowing that you are part of a positive change in someone’s life is very gratifying and special. There are endless job opportunities for those looking to become a PSW in Ontario. The people you meet throughout your career and the skills you gain are truly invaluable.

If you are passionate about people, Amanda recommends looking into a career as a PSW. As Ontario’s aging population continues to increase, there is a higher demand now more than ever to get involved. The door is opened for all those looking to begin their new career or journey as a PSW.

How have your experiences impacted to the work you are doing at IVEY?

The experiences that Amanda has accumulated throughout her health care career and her experience in management have allowed her to understand the health care needs of our community. From a business perspective, Amanda understands the needs and requirements of running a business, and is able to translate her own experiences to help other companies excel and meet their goals and targets. From a recruitment perspective, Amanda understands the importance of working conditions and the skills required to be able to work in Ontario long term care homes. IVEY Group is extremely lucky to have such a bright, caring and knowledgeable team member leading our health care initiatives.

___

Amanda is truly an inspiring member of our team. Her energy and belief in instilling good has truly impacted our organization. We are looking forward to her leading our efforts in recruiting skilled and highly-qualified PSWs to come and care for the patients in our long-term care facilities across Ontario.

The time for change is now, and we are happy to have Amanda Hack on our side.