Hard work, determination and a willingness to hedge a risk has provided the executive director of Padman Health Care, Viv Padman, with not only 26 years of business success but now, a coveted Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Having taken out the top spot in the services category for the South Australian and Northern Territory region, Mr Padman will go on to compete for the national title in November this year.

The winner of the Australian competition then goes overseas to contest the global title of World Entrepreneur of the Year.

Mr Padman said he was very surprised to have won the regional award during what he described as “an exhilarating moment”.

“When assessing applications the judges look at an individual’s overall commitment to the industry,” Mr Padman said.

“I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve been able to be on a number of industry boards including the Aged Care Association (ACAA) at a state level and on the federal board.

“I’ve also spent 14 years on board of Health and Community Services Industry Fund (HESTA). Through my involvement in HESTA, I also served on a couple of other boards, including the Utilities Trust of Australia.

Mr Padman and his wife, Florence, purchased their first aged care facility in 1984. Predicting the changes to the rules covering aged care providers, Padman Health Care (PHC) was the first to market in the emerging 'extra services' segment.

By founding his own Registered Training Organisation to ensure quality staff, and building boutique hotel-style facilities, he developed Padman Health Care into a $53 million business with almost 1,000 staff.

“We have been running at a fanatic pace for the last 25 years and have developed quite a successful business, based on our flexibility and willingness to take a calculated risk that’s involved substantial investments.

“In part we have concentrated on a mix of extra service and normal homes that’s enabled our cash-flow to sustain substantial developments.”

In the last three years, Padman Health Care has spent around $50 million developing new facilities, many of which are award-winning.

“Most of our developments have involved acquiring poorly performing sites with average accommodation, and transforming that to a new site with state-of-the art facilities and a range of services that enable residents to enjoy life to the fullest.

“It’s that transformation that I have found very exciting.”

Also hailing from the health and aged care sector was Ernst & Young’s young entrepreneur of the year (central region), Nick Heywood-Smith.

As the director of Wellness & Lifestyles Australia, Mr Heywood-Smith has provided mobile allied health services to the aged care sector using an outsourced model.

Mr Heywood-Smith has built a soon-to-be national business with the potential to grow to $20 million in the next five years. The business also provides online education and training resources for aged care staff.