Farewell to a ‘passionate and transformational’ leader

The announcement was made by chairman of the board of directors of Southern Cross Care Victoria, Greg van Mourik. He spoke of Ms Horsnell as a “passionate and transformational leader”.

“We are indebted to Ms Horsnell for leading the transformation of Southern Cross Care Victoria into a unified, thriving and financially sustainable organisation that is well-placed in every respect to meet the challenges of aged care into the future,” Mr van Mourik says.

Under Ms Horsnell’s leadership Southern Cross Care Victoria overhauled its residential aged care portfolio, with major upgrades and new developments including Dandenong and Keon Park homes. It has also focused on home-based care and consumer-directed care.

“Ms Horsnell has been single-minded in pursuing our goal of ‘a good life for older people’,” Mr van Mourik says.

He says that that given the breadth of industry and community roles played by Ms Horsnell her loss would be felt by the sector as a whole.

Ms Horsnell, who has been in the top post at Southern Cross Care Victoria for almost a decade, says the decision to prioritise managing a long-term health condition “so I can eventually enjoy my retirement” was made after “deep soul searching”.

“I will always be incredibly proud of what my team and I have achieved,” Ms Horsnell says.

“It has been such a privilege to have led this organisation through such a period of change.

“It is an honour to have had the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of the older Victorians and to have been able to have some influence in public policy for older people throughout Australia.”

Ms Horsnell will also be standing aside from governance roles with Catholic Health Australia and Catholic Social Services at the end of her terms.

An executive search is underway, with the handover to the new CEO expected by late May.