Twenty-one year old Mercy Health employee Mayumi Morales is a unique individual in many ways – not least because she’s a carer to elderly West Australians on weeknights, in addition to being an aspiring opera singer studying at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) by day.
Filipino-born Mayumi Morales, who has worked as a full-time carer at a not-for-profit aged care home Mercy Place Mont Clare for the past three years, began studying at WAAPA in February, and her most adoring fans are arguably the Claremont-based residents for whom she sings regularly – particularly if one of them is available to play the piano.
“I’m loving being at WAAPA and have met many new friends,” says Ms Morales, who is currently studying music theory, Italian language, diction and acting, as well as receiving private voice lessons at WAAPA.
“My absolute passion is singing and one day I dream of performing opera; since I immigrated with my family to Perth in 2014, I’ve been incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to study, as well as find work at Mercy Health, which has been extremely supportive of my study commitments and rehearsals.”
Ms Morales has previously studied music at the University of the Philippines and majored in classical voice, in addition to travelling to Hollywood when she was a young teenager to represent the Philippines in the world championships of performing arts.
“Since I’ve lived in Perth, the residents where I work at Mercy Place Mont Clare have encouraged me to follow my dreams; they love to hear me sing, particularly our residents living with dementia and they’ve asked me to perform for them many times.
“Working full-time and studying full-time is really demanding, but the residents – as well as my work colleagues – have been as supportive to me as my family and they know it’s my dream to become an opera singer one day.”
Mercy Place Mont Clare Service Manager Janelle McFarlane, says Mayumi is a wonderful member of the Mercy Health team who brings great joy to residents with her enormous vocal talent.
“Since she has joined our team, Mayumi has been an extremely dedicated carer and has often sung for residents in her absolutely beautiful voice, while one of our seniors plays the piano; their performances are incredible and our residents are absolutely captivated.
“The whole team at Mercy Health is incredibly supportive of Mayumi’s talent and the dedication she is displaying, both to our residents and also to her extremely demanding studies.”
Mercy Health is a Catholic community not for profit provider of care, founded by the Sisters of Mercy and grounded in a 2000 year history of caring for those in need. The organisation is a national service provider of health and aged care throughout Victoria, Southern New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.
In Western Australia, the organisation cares for over 300 people across six residential homes, with 78 independent living units.