Finalists announced for national aged care awards

Health and community services industry fund HESTA has announced the 15 finalists in the running for this years HESTA Aged Care Awards.

The Awards recognise those in the aged care sector who make an exceptional contribution to improving the quality of life of older Australians in three categories: Team Innovation, Outstanding Organisation and Individual Distinction.

HESTA chief executive officer (CEO) Debby Blakey says the judges had a tough job in selecting 15 finalists from an outstanding field of nominations.

“These finalists have demonstrated innovation and commitment to the provision of quality care – from helping people live independently, to providing high-quality residential care and assisting people to make end-of-life choices with dignity and respect,” Ms Blakey says.

“Our finalists go above and beyond to provide genuine care and support to older people and their families, and we’re proud to give them the recognition they deserve,” she adds.

Finalists are in the running for a share of the $30,000 prize pool. The winners will be revealed at the 2015 HESTA Aged Care Awards dinner on Thursday 27 August in Canberra.

Finalists in the three categories are:

Team Innovation

• ‘A Safe Place to Call Home’ program (Catholic Healthcare’s Charles O’Neill Hostel, NSW) for providing care to older Australians suffering from mental illness.
• Holistic Wellness Program (Southern Cross Care Keon Park, VIC) for its innovative program that combines exercise, gym work and a strict nutritional diet to improve the physical and mental health of residents.
• Identify Pain: Ask, Observe, Report project (Wesley Mission Brisbane, QLD) for developing a practical pain identification tool for use by all staff, innovative implementation strategies and extensive staff training to create a pain-vigilant culture in its aged care facility.
• Stronger Carers Program (BaptistCare NSW & ACT) for its ‘home-coaching’ model that helps ensure carers of people with dementia develop their skills, access support services and maintain their own wellbeing.
• Companion Therapy (Bupa Aged Care Berwick, VIC) for its successful initiative to support the psychological and emotional needs a grieving resident with dementia.

Outstanding Organisation

• Anam Cara House (VIC) for providing personalised respite and palliative care within a unique home-like environment, enabling families to remain close to their loved ones.
• Co.As.It. Community Services Inc. (QLD) for adopting a humanistic approach that has enabled clients to gain greater independence and control over daily activities and achieve personal life goals.
• Montessori Ageing Support Services (VIC) for championing a new care model for people with dementia based on Montessori principles that focus on a person’s strengths, interests, needs and abilities.
• Southern Cross Care (VIC) for its employee development program that has improved the skills, health and lives of its predominantly female and culturally and linguistically diverse workforce.
• Synovum Care Group (NSW) for providing small-scale living houses allowing people with dementia to live more independently despite their complex needs.

Individual Distinction

• Frank Naso (Society of Saint Hilarion Inc. Aged Care Homes, SA) for helping aged care residents regain their fitness and building community connections between elderly residents and the broader community.
• Helen Spence (IRT Aged Care, NSW) for establishing a new onsite dental practice at Dalmeny giving residents access to regular dental care, greatly improving their health and quality of life.
• Henry Pan OAM (Chinese Australian Service Society, NSW) for 35 years of dedicated service in driving the establishment of aged care facilities for thousands of Chinese Australians throughout Sydney and Wollongong.
• Paul Brophy (Brotherhood of St Laurence, VIC) for staging musical events that provide 6,000 residents from 20 care facilities, the opportunity to enjoy music, singing and dancing.
• Sheryl Cain (integratedliving Australia, NSW) for creating one of Australia’s first gardens specifically designed for people with dementia.

Learn more about the Awards on the Hesta Awards website.