With the aged care industry taking a battering following the announcement of a Royal Commission into aged care and reports of elderly abuse, the HLAC Awards are a timely reminder of the hard-working and caring people who make up the majority of the sector.
Belinda Adams, CEO SoupedUp said: “We are extremely proud to give these outstanding professionals the acknowledgement they deserve. All finalists have shown dedication and commitment to improving the quality of resident care. Those working in aged care are empathetic, passionate, caring people and most go the extra mile for their residents as demonstrated in each award nomination. Through the HLAC Awards programme, we get an opportunity to spread the word that every minute, every day, people are doing little things that count!” Adams concluded.
National winners were chosen by a panel of independent judges from the aged care industry, including Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, the Maggie Beer Foundation, Care Support Network, Diver Foods and the industry’s peak body, Leading Age Services Australia (LASA).
With more than half the aged care population expected to be on texture modified diets in the next five years, Bolton Clarke is taking a strategic view to reshaping its food service to cater for the needs of residents today and tomorrow.
Responsible for supporting the catering service across 21 RFBI villages, Lindy Twyford has turned a career in catering into a true quality of life program for older Australians. Read more
Catherine Doyle is the Leisure & Lifestyle Coordinator at Lansdowne Gardens in Neutral Bay on Sydney’s lower north shore. Since Catherine commenced, there has never been a dull moment and many of the residents can truly say that ‘Life Begins at Lansdowne Gardens’. Read more
Clean laundry is a vital part of our lives that we often take for granted. Managing the laundry for large numbers of people and volumes of clothes is a real challenge, especially where items could become lost or damaged quite easily. Even with the greatest care taken, people seem to have quite different preferences when it comes to their laundry. Read more
‘There is no such thing as a good care home. There are however good places where individuals live well together and share communal space, time and company.’ This is how Dee Richardson of BlueCross Baradine thinks of her residents, respecting their individuality and diverse likes and needs, each and every day. Read more
Resident menus in aged care are a constant source of opinion and if not well managed, complaints. So how do you create a menu that is exciting, nutritious, on budget and most of all, embraced by residents? Read more
The journey from cook chill to fresh, flavoursome fare using a ‘listen, test and learn’ approach heralds a new era in catering at Rathdowne Place, much to the delight of residents and staff. Read more
Events and celebrations have always been something Whiddon Laurieton has placed a focus on, and something that residents absolutely love. The ‘Around the Globe Festival’ provides the springboard for Whiddon Laurieton to create something special for their residents, to bring them together and celebrate different cultural experiences as a family. Read more
There’s not too many people who can say they’re veterans of the aged care sector at the tender age of 23. But Katherine Muscat of Estia Health Werribee can legitimately lay claim to the title, turning a part-time job working in the kitchen into a career pathway that combines catering care and nursing.
Food is truly a powerful bonding force in our lives. It can breathe joy into our day and every meal shared creates a small piece of community. By recognising the significance of food, both socially and nutritionally, Gerda Poalses has transformed eating well into resident wellbeing. Read more