Award-winner Dot Mickan helps makes retirees’ lives a little easier

This story was contributed by Resthaven Murray Bridge.

Upon meeting Dorothy "Dot" Mickan, it's immediately clear that she has a deep and genuine love, compassion, and respect for the work that she does.

Dot is a home support worker with Resthaven Murray Mallee Hills Community Services; and the recent recipient of Resthaven’s inaugural President Award at the 2025 Resthaven Excellence Awards.

"I feel very honoured that I was chosen for the award," Ms Mickan said.

"But I really do believe it is a team effort, everyone works together as a team.

"Management and my colleagues are all very supportive – the door is always open as they say."

Dot has worked at Resthaven for ten years, but her role as a carer began many years before that.

‘I grew up on a farm 65 kilometers east of Ceduna on Eyre Peninsula, with my parents and older brother,’ Ms Mickan said.

‘When I was 10, my dad, who was 50, suffered a severe stroke causing him complete loss of speech, and the loss of all movement on his right side.’

Although Dot’s father had months of rehabilitation in Adelaide, his life was never the same and he was unable to resume working on the farm.

The couple had a worker, Andre, who had been working with them on the farm since he was young.

Dot says he was a tremendous helper for the family.

‘Back then, due to the isolation, there was a lack of resources and organisations available for Mum to access any assistance with care and support,’ Ms Mickan said.

‘So, my brother and I had to grow up overnight and help Mum care for Dad at home and look after the farm, with Andre.’

In the years following, Dot moved to Adelaide to finish her schooling at Immanuel College Boarding School and then went on to do a traineeship to become an enrolled nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH).

‘I really wanted to begin a career in health care to continue looking after and caring for people,’ Dot says.

‘After I had completed my training, I continued working at the RAH and it was during this time that Mum’s health started to deteriorate, and Dad developed vascular disease.’

Her parents left the farm and moved to Adelaide for medical treatment, care and support.

They bought a unit and Ms Mickan moved in with them to help; health challenges continued and her father had to have both legs amputated above the knee.

Following his operation, an electric wheelchair was purchased to support his mobility and give him the independence that he needed.

Dot’s mum’s health also declined, and she was no longer able to care of her husband at home.

"Caring for Dad and the stress of running the farm had taken its toll on Mum," Ms Mickan said.

"Due to his young age, Mum didn't want Dad to go into a residential care facility, so with the assistance of a doctor we knew, he moved into the Stirling Hospital and was accepted as a permanent patient.

"It was Mum’s last wish towards the end of her life, to remain at home and be cared for there.

"She passed away peacefully, surrounded by all of her family, in May 1979 at the age of 50 (she was 10 years younger than Dad). It was a very emotional time for all of us."

After several weeks, Ms Mickan returned to work and continued to visit her dad at Stirling every day before or after her shifts.

‘It was very difficult for him – losing Mum and adapting to his new life in care,’ Ms Mickan said.

The following year, her dad was transferred from Stirling back to the Ceduna Hospital, where he spent the remainder of his life.

This transition was much easier for him as he had family and friends in the town and his son (Dot’s older brother) and son's wife were still on the farm.

"He seemed very happy being back on Eyre Peninsula," Ms Mickan said.

In 1980 Dot married her husband Leon, a farmer from Cummins; the pair had known each other since 1976 when Dot was 17 and Leon was 21.

"There was a connection straight away and he has been by my side ever since, throughout this entire journey.

"Leon has always been there to help and support where he could."

Once married, she resigned from the RAH and worked on the Cummins farm with Leon.

"Our two beautiful girls were born while we were there, but sadly, Dad passed away five weeks after we had our eldest daughter, in June 1984 at the age of 65," Ms Mickan said.

With the commitments of working the land and being a mother at the top of her list, Dot’s nursing registration expired.

It was ten years later, when her and Leon made the decision to leave the family farm partnership and branch out on their own; the family moved to Adelaide for 12 months and Ms Mickan worked as a medical receptionist.

They then bought a business, a caravan park in Queensland, and worked there together for seven years until 1999 when they decided to move back to be closer to Leon’s ageing parents.

"I returned to the work that I loved and was employed as a carer, looking after elderly and disabled clients in the community,’ Ms Mickan said.

"Over a number of years I worked for two different organisations and also volunteered for half a day a week.

"I thoroughly enjoyed working in the sector again. However, I took another break when our daughters both got married – one month apart in the same year!

In 2013, Leon was diagnosed with prostate cancer and following his treatment, they moved to White Sands near Murray Bridge.

The following year in May 2014, Ms Mickan was diagnosed with breast cancer.

"After I had recovered from my operation and follow up treatment, I decided to complete a six-month course in aged care and disability," Ms Mickan said.

"I found this extremely beneficial."

In July 2015, she began working in the home support worker role she has now.

"I thoroughly enjoy working for Resthaven and I absolutely love working with our clients in the community," Ms Mickan said.

"We work together to provide love, care and support to older people and their carers.

"We respect them, allow them to make their own choices and encourage them to be as independent as possible.

"This enables them to remain in their own homes for as long as they can manage and feel comfortable doing so."

Ms Mickan said the aged care and disability sectors have come a long way since her parents were making decisions about their own care.

"I'm so happy and grateful that we now have more resources, organisations, facilities and staff available to provide the love, care and support that individuals need," Ms Mickan said.

"I knew from a young age that I really wanted to work in an area where I was able to help people and care for them.

"It’s always been my passion, I enjoy all of it.

"I don’t look at it as a job, but more of a calling, and I try to give it my best every day.

"It’s all the interactions, it’s very fulfilling and rewarding knowing you are able to help someone.

"They say you can’t change the world, but we can change someone’s world by making life a little easier and better for those we care for."

Dot said that she and Leon feel very blessed.

"We have two beautiful daughters, two wonderful sons-in-law and four lovely grandchildren," Ms Mickan said.

"We are both in good health, enjoy our work and are loving life."

She is very grateful for the recognition she received at the Resthaven Excellence Awards

"When you are in this role, you don’t do it expecting to win an award," Ms Mickan said.

"But it is so lovely to be recognised for what you do. It was an amazing night – one that I’ll remember for the rest of my life!"