About Us
Quality service for quality of life.
About Us
Quality service for quality of life.
About Us
Quality service for quality of life.
About Us
Happy Helpers Home Care is a Victorian family-owned business which opened in response to the increased need for quality care delivered within the home. In 2023, Rachel and Gary Wassink decided to take on the challenge of providing the best quality home care in Victoria to ensure that every person’s care needs are met to the highest standards.
As a registered nurse and educator, Rachel knows how important quality care is to a person’s physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing and it is this knowledge that drives the preparation and selection of the best care staff for the organisation.
Happy Helpers Home Care is dedicated to delivering exceptional care and compassion to all our customers, families and professional partners. We are committed to upholding our mission statement of helping more Australians live independent and fulfilling lives in their own homes for longer. Our team is passionate about providing personalised care and support that is tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual. With our unwavering commitment to excellence in quality care and friendly service, we strive to make a positive impact on the lives of those we serve. Join us as we work to empower our community and transform lives through compassionate care.
Our Mission, Vision & Purpose
Vision
To be the company of choice for all Australian’s who need assistance to live independent lives from their own home.
Mission
To help more Australian’s live independent and fulfilling lives in their own home for longer.
Purpose
To improve the quality of life for individuals and their families through best practice in home care and services.
Our Values
Collaboration
We will ensure and embrace collaboration with all clients, families and partners to meet all goals. We will collaborate and communicate effectively through both the ups and downs of the care journey ensuring any client or family concern is addressed quickly.
At Happy Helpers Home Care, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that by working together, we can better understand the unique needs and desires of our customers and deliver personal care solutions that exceed their expectations. Our team values open communication, mutual respect, and a commitment to sharing knowledge and expertise. By collaborating across departments and functions, we can leverage our collective strengths to develop innovative products and services that meet the evolving needs of our customers. We believe that our success depends on our ability to work together, listen to each other, and build on each other’s ideas.
Care
We will provide exceptional evidence-based care which exceeds your expectations while continuously learning and improving what we do every day. By prioritising care, we aim to create meaningful and long-lasting relationships with our customers, built on trust, transparency, and a genuine desire to improve their lives. We believe that by showing care for our customers, we can make a positive impact on their health, happiness, and overall wellbeing.
Respect
We will respect and ensure dignity, privacy and confidentiality in both our delivery of care and within the handling and storage of client and family information. We believe that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and consideration, regardless of their background, beliefs, or circumstances. Respect builds strong relationships, foster understanding, and promote a sense of belonging.
Empowerment
Our team values autonomy, education, and a commitment to empowering our customers to make informed decisions about their personal care. Empowerment can inspire our customers to take an active role in their own health journey, to ask questions, seek out information, and make choices that align with their values and preferences. We believe that by empowering our customers, we can help them lead healthier, happier, and more fulfilling lives. We will also empower our care staff to excel and grow within our organisation, ensuring that all staff are willing and able to be the best version of themselves.
Our Values
Collaboration
We will ensure and embrace collaboration with all clients, families and partners to meet all goals. We will collaborate and communicate effectively through both the ups and downs of the care journey ensuring any client or family concern is addressed quickly.
At Happy Helpers Home Care, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that by working together, we can better understand the unique needs and desires of our customers and deliver personal care solutions that exceed their expectations. Our team values open communication, mutual respect, and a commitment to sharing knowledge and expertise. By collaborating across departments and functions, we can leverage our collective strengths to develop innovative products and services that meet the evolving needs of our customers. We believe that our success depends on our ability to work together, listen to each other, and build on each other’s ideas.
Care
We will provide exceptional evidence-based care which exceeds your expectations while continuously learning and improving what we do every day. By prioritising care, we aim to create meaningful and long-lasting relationships with our customers, built on trust, transparency, and a genuine desire to improve their lives. We believe that by showing care for our customers, we can make a positive impact on their health, happiness, and overall wellbeing.
Respect
We will respect and ensure dignity, privacy and confidentiality in both our delivery of care and within the handling and storage of client and family information. We believe that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and consideration, regardless of their background, beliefs, or circumstances. Respect builds strong relationships, foster understanding, and promote a sense of belonging.
Empowerment
Our team values autonomy, education, and a commitment to empowering our customers to make informed decisions about their personal care. Empowerment can inspire our customers to take an active role in their own health journey, to ask questions, seek out information, and make choices that align with their values and preferences. We believe that by empowering our customers, we can help them lead healthier, happier, and more fulfilling lives. We will also empower our care staff to excel and grow within our organisation, ensuring that all staff are willing and able to be the best version of themselves.
Our Values
Collaboration
We will ensure and embrace collaboration with all clients, families and partners to meet all goals. We will collaborate and communicate effectively through both the ups and downs of the care journey ensuring any client or family concern is addressed quickly.
At Happy Helpers Home Care, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that by working together, we can better understand the unique needs and desires of our customers and deliver personal care solutions that exceed their expectations. Our team values open communication, mutual respect, and a commitment to sharing knowledge and expertise. By collaborating across departments and functions, we can leverage our collective strengths to develop innovative products and services that meet the evolving needs of our customers. We believe that our success depends on our ability to work together, listen to each other, and build on each other’s ideas.
Care
We will provide exceptional evidence-based care which exceeds your expectations while continuously learning and improving what we do every day. By prioritising care, we aim to create meaningful and long-lasting relationships with our customers, built on trust, transparency, and a genuine desire to improve their lives. We believe that by showing care for our customers, we can make a positive impact on their health, happiness, and overall wellbeing.
Respect
We will respect and ensure dignity, privacy and confidentiality in both our delivery of care and within the handling and storage of client and family information. We believe that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and consideration, regardless of their background, beliefs, or circumstances. Respect builds strong relationships, foster understanding, and promote a sense of belonging.
Empowerment
Our team values autonomy, education, and a commitment to empowering our customers to make informed decisions about their personal care. Empowerment can inspire our customers to take an active role in their own health journey, to ask questions, seek out information, and make choices that align with their values and preferences. We believe that by empowering our customers, we can help them lead healthier, happier, and more fulfilling lives. We will also empower our care staff to excel and grow within our organisation, ensuring that all staff are willing and able to be the best version of themselves.
Our team
Rachel Wassink
CertTAE, DipVET, DipTDD, BNurs, GCertEd, MBA
Co-Founder & CEO
Rachel is a registered nurse and experienced healthcare leader with over 15 years’ experience across clinical practice, education, and executive management. She began her nursing journey through the Graduate Nurse Program at Austin Health, later expanding her clinical expertise into radiology and education roles across major institutions including Queensland Health and Holmesglen Institute.
Driven by a deep passion for high-quality nursing education, Rachel transitioned into academic leadership in 2013, leading nursing programs at Chisholm Institute, Swinburne University, and most recently as Director of the Social Care and Health Industry Cluster at RMIT University. She has overseen strategic growth, compliance, and teaching excellence across large teams and nationally accredited programs. In 2025, Rachel returned to Chisholm Institute in a senior role focused on
innovation in teaching and learning.
She has played an influential role in shaping nursing education nationally as Chair of the National Moderation Delivery Committee for Diploma of Nursing and the Victorian Senior Council of VET (Health & Community Services), and continues to serve as an assessor with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC). Rachel’s contributions have been recognised through awards and academic publications focused on bridging theory and practice in nursing care.
In 2023, Rachel and her husband Gary launched Happy Helpers Home Care, a service born from her belief that care in the community should be compassionate, skilled, and personalised. Drawing from her network of exceptional nurses and carers, Rachel ensures that Happy Helpers delivers outstanding, person-centred support that families can trust.
Gary Wassink
Co-Founder and General Manager
Gary brings over 18 years of professional expertise across banking, leadership, and business operations. His background in financial services—spanning roles in retail banking, home & business lending, and capability management—has equipped him with the skills to drive both operational excellence and strong financial stewardship at Happy Helpers.
Gary oversees all facets of the business, from team leadership and service delivery to financial control, budgeting, and compliance. Drawing on his years of experience managing complex financials and interpreting credit policy at several major banks, Gary ensures that Happy Helpers operates with clarity, transparency, and sustainable growth. His hands-on approach to payroll, reporting, invoicing, and taxation ensures that the company remains both financially sound and agile in a rapidly evolving industry.
Beyond the numbers, Gary is a dynamic leader who invests deeply in people. He has built a team culture grounded in accountability, empathy, and continuous development—ensuring that carers are supported, skilled, and aligned with the values that underpin exceptional home care. His ability to mentor staff, implement scalable systems, and align business strategy with frontline care outcomes makes him a driving force behind Happy Helpers’ success.
With a focus on trust, quality, and operational precision, Gary continues to shape Happy Helpers Home Care into a provider of choice—where families find support they can count on, and where care professionals thrive.
Rebecca Sharp
Operations Manager (NDIS)
Rebecca brings a wealth of experience, warmth, and professional insight to her role as Operations Manager at Happy Helpers. With over a decade in customer experience, team leadership, and health and fitness, she brings a calm, structured, and person-centred approach to both her operational leadership and hands-on support work.
Rebecca’s career spans multiple areas of community care and personal support, including roles as Guest Experience Coordinator, Duty Manager, Swim Instructor, and Personal Trainer. Her qualifications reflect her holistic view of wellbeing, holding an Advanced Diploma in Business (Legal Practice), Certificates III and IV in Fitness, and multiple AUSTSWIM accreditations including Teaching of Swimming and Water Safety for infants, children, and people with disabilities. She is also a certified Pool Lifeguard and Mental Health Program facilitator.
As a Support Worker, Rebecca has a special passion for working with clients experiencing anxiety or complex support needs—particularly in active settings such as hydrotherapy, gym programs, or gentle movement sessions. Her calm presence and ability to meet people where they are help build trust and confidence, one small win at a time.
In her role as Operations Manager, Rebecca is the backbone of our service systems, ensuring smooth processes that support both our clients and team. She leads with empathy and accountability, manages staff onboarding and compliance, and designs systems that promote safety, empowerment, and connection across our care network.
Whether she’s supporting a new team member through training, or helping a client rediscover confidence in the water, Rebecca shows up with professionalism, empathy, and a deep commitment to the values that define Happy Helpers.
Jessica Jacobs
CertTAE, DipNurs
Operations Manager (Aged Care)
Transforming lives through compassionate care
Jess is a customer service professional with over 10 years of experience and a passion for helping people. Jess has worked in a variety of industries, from retail to hospitality to healthcare, and has developed a reputation for providing exceptional service to people of all kinds. She has a natural ability to connect with people, understand their needs, and provide personalized solutions that exceed their expectations. Jess is an enrolled nurse with over 6 years of experience using her skills in a variety of areas. This includes aged care and working as a nursing technical officer. It was while working at Swinburne University as the nursing technical officer that Jess developed a passion for education and completed her Certificate IV TAE. This allowed her to become a first aid teacher and coordinator at Swinburne University, which is a skill and ability Jess holds close to her heart. Jess is a passionate CFA volunteer fire fighter, having volunteered within the service for over 20 years, and it was during the Victorian and NSW fires of 2019/2020 that Jess used her key first aid skills to assist in saving the life of a fellow fire fighter. Working closely with colleagues, Jess was able to lead a team of people to provide CPR and critical first aid to, not only save their colleague, but allow him to walk himself to the ambulance when it arrived over 1 hour later while been surrounded by active fire. Jess brings this skill and passion into all aspects of her life.
Please feel free to browse through our site to see the services we offer and why we think we would be a good fit to happily help you.
Feel free to have a chat or get in touch with us via the “Contact us” page should you have any queries.
Please feel free to browse through our site to see the services we offer and why we think we would be a good fit to happily help you.
Feel free to have a chat or get in touch with us via the “Contact us” page should you have any queries.
