Aged Care Awards Recognise Dedication and Commitment
14 September 2011 at 4:38 pm
One of Mission Australia’s aged care facilities, Charles Chambers Court, has won the National Organisation Award for excellence at the HESTA & ACSA Aged Care Awards in Sydney.
Charles Chambers Court is an aged care facility for men and women who have experienced homelessness.
Of the facility’s 60 residents, 72% have a diagnosed mental illness and all have either cancer, cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
Mission Australia Aged Care Operations Manager, Jill Bicknell says that training as well as attracting and keeping high-quality staff are the keys to the service’s success.
Staff members at the facility play the role of family in the lives of residents and promote an environment conducive to nurturing and engagement.
Steph Charlesworth – a dementia specialist with Frontier Services NT Behaviour Advisory Services (NT DBMAS) – was commended for her natural ability and desire to reach those who were often lost in their world and to give them some pleasure.
The HESTA & ACSA Awards recognise excellence in members’ contributions to improving the quality of life for older people, people with disabilities and their carers. State winners contend for the national awards in six categories.
ACSA CEO Patrick McClure says the awards are not only a great opportunity to acknowledge aged care workers and organisations but to hear their remarkable stories.
The Other 2011 Award winners are:
Volunteer Award: Jim Gilligan is 92 and in his 10th year of volunteering at St Michaels Aged Care Facility in Murrumbeena, Victoria. Jim drives to Murrumbeena every week to provide support for residents including pastoral care and entertainment. Jim makes Melbourne Show bags for the residents every year based on 43 years as the state manager for Darrell Lea Chocolate.
Trainee Award: Carolyn Bridgart is an Enrolled Nurse at the Kellock Lodge Alexandra, Victoria. In her six years at the lodge, Carolyn has graduated from being a part?time cleaner to qualifying in personal care and food services before successfully completing a course to become a medication endorsed enrolled nurse. This year Carolyn began studying for a Diploma in nursing.
Media Award: Orbost Regional Health, Orbost, Victoria, achieved impressive coverage of a 12?month art project despite limited access to media outlets. Residents of Waratah Lodge and Lochiel House created 102 works of art for an exhibition and contributed their stories for a book. The media coverage resulted in a successful exhibition, 200 book sales and a positive portrayal of aged care.
Individual Award: John Ireland, from NSW, received the honour for his outstanding leadership during a career in aged care spanning 22 years. John recently retired as CEO of Southern Cross Care NSW&ACT and remains passionate about the care of vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalised people.
HESTA CEO Anne-Marie Corboy said the awards presented a great opportunity for HESTA to thank the organisations and individuals in aged care for their dedication and their commitment to always putting others needs before their own.
