Awards looking for aged care providers who deliver ‘Better Practice’

An initiative of the Australian Aged Care Quality Association (AACQA), the awards are opened up each year for projects, initiatives, or programs that act as exemplars for other aged care service providers to assist and encourage improvement to care and services.

Posted March 29th 2018

by Alexandra Stopford

<p>Resthaven Chief Executive Officer Richard Hearn with Sue McKechnie and Lynn Openshaw at the awards presentation in Sydney (Source: Resthaven)</p> — Resthaven Chief Executive Officer Richard Hearn with Sue McKechnie and Lynn Openshaw at the awards presentation in Sydney (Source: Resthaven)

Last year, 38 Commendation Awards were announced, alongside the two inaugural winners of the National Innovation and Excellence in Aged Care Awards – Resthaven and Bushland Health Group.

AACQA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nick Ryan backed the 2017 award winners and the whole initiative in the opportunity it offers aged care staff and organisations.

“The Better Practice Awards are an ideal opportunity to highlight the positive procrams in action for older Australians, and to reward staff, management, clients and organisations alike for all the hard work they do,” he says.

“This is our way of recognising and showcasing aged care services that have consumer focus at their core.”

Following the successful acknowledgement of both Resthaven and Bushland Health Groups innovative and excellence, Minister for Aged Care Ken Wyatt is also encouraging other providers to nominate and enter for the awards in 2018.

“Showcasing quality, safety and the application for new ideas is particularly important during this time of significant change in the aged care sector,” Minister Wyatt says.

“The Better Practice Awards are an ideal opportunity to honour and promote the effective programs, projects and initiatives that are underway to provide service excellence for senior Australians in care.

“The awards are also a great way to reward staff, management and organisations for the hard work they do.”

Nominations and entry for the 2018 awards will be open from 1 – 30 April 2018 via www.aacqa.gov.au, with winners set to be announced at the Better Practice for the Future national conference in Sydney on 22-24 August 2018.