RSL Care finalist for flood response

Queensland based aged care provider, RSL Care, has been named a finalist in the 2013 HESTA Aged Care Awards for its work maintaining services in the aftermath of this year’s devastating flood emergency.

Fifteen of the network’s 29 retirement and residential care communities were impacted by the January storm and flood event — precipitated by ex-cyclone Oswald — but most of its centres were operational again within hours or days, as a result of the high level organisational preparedness of staff.

At the worst hit RSL Care Fairways community in Bundaberg, 108 residents were evacuated in a mass operation to four temporary accommodation sites, while continuing to receive the best of care.

More than 40 RSL Care staff from 12 other centres then travelled by car, bus and plane to support and relieve fellow team members who had been relocating residents since the flood crisis began.

Craig Mills, RSL Care’s chief executive, said staff also had help from the local community and fire officers, as well as defence force personnel who moved in to help with the clean up.

“Many of the Fairways staff lost most, if not all, of their personal belongings themselves, so we set up an employee appeal across our organisation to raise funds for them and also made a one-off payment of one thousand dollars to affected staff under a new grant scheme,” Mr Mills said.

“While there was a lot of heartache and loss as a result of the flood, there was also a lot of goodwill and generosity of spirit. In many ways, what tore a small community apart brought a bigger community together.

“From the evacuation to the repatriation of residents, staff did what they were trained and compelled to do, with the safety and wellbeing of residents always first and foremost in mind.”

The judges praised the great achievements of RSL Care staff in a time of adversity.

Mr Mills and the other finalists will be flown to Sydney for an awards dinner on 4 August 2013 when the winners will be revealed.

A $30,000 prize pool will be shared among the winners, courtesy of longterm HESTA awards sponsor ME Bank. The Outstanding Organisation and Team Innovation winners will each receive a $10,000 development grant to put towards their program or initiative. The Individual Distinction winner will receive a $5,000 ME Bank EveryDay Transaction account and $5,000 towards further education.

HESTA is the leading super fund for health and community services, with more than 750,000 members and $23 billion in assets. More people in health and community services choose HESTA for their super.

To purchase tickets for the awards dinner or to learn more visit www.hestaawards.com.au