February 11th, 2026Drew loving his lifestyle at Hepburn House

Drew Muscat celebrated 10 years working at Hepburn House last August – and he is not going anywhere.
The personal care assistant, more recently turned lifestyle assistant, cultural support officer and member of the Ageing with Pride committee, loves his job.
The lifestyle side of things sees Drew doing activities five days a week, like going into the garden with the residents and reminiscing with them about their own gardens and, with Valentine’s Day coming up, what they had in their wedding bouquets.
There’s also movies, the in-house theatre and even a progressive writing project which he tries to keep on the rails as the residents add one-by-one to the original sentence. “We had a story about a bus tour and the bus got flooded but one of the ladies added that she was so full of hot air, the bus refloated. It’s all good fun. Now we are doing a ghost story treasure hunt.”
The cultural side is a bit more intense. Drew steps in if anyone thinks they are not being treated respectfully or spoken to as well as they should be – a form of OH&S.
The Pride position sees Drew as part of the committee talking about and maintaining the house’s Rainbow Tick and education about Pride. They are also busy now working on their ChillOut Parade float.
For Drew, it all adds up to having a great job. Or not even that. “I know it’s a cliché but if you enjoy what you do, you don’t really work. I spent many years working in hospitality and it’s just nice not to have to handle money anymore. We always have a laugh.”
Drew said he found his way into aged care the same way he fell into hospitality. “Almost 20 years ago my brother’s fiancée said they were doing a hospitality course – and did I want to do that too. So I did, and they didn’t.
“Then 10 years ago, a neighbour said they were doing an aged care course. And I did that too. And so did they this time. Since then I have also done my certificate four and a diploma in leisure and health.”
Drew said he felt an affinity for older people which he puts down to being adopted, at one week, to older parents. They were born in 1925 and 1930 and he was adopted in 1971. “So I can really relate to the residents. I know the kind of humour my parents liked. You can be a bit bawdy without being crude. I find it easier to relate to them. We have fun.”

Hepburn House, 1 Hepburn Road, Daylesford, is a Commonwealth Government-funded aged care facility focussed on providing personalised and advanced services to accommodate the needs of all residents as they experience change over time.
Email reception@hepburnhouse.com.au or call 5348 8100. Advertorial