The ACH Group’s general manager for Health and Community Services has been awarded the Nokia Business Innovation Award for South Australia.

Jane Mussared’s award was presented as part of the 2008 Telstra Business Woman of the Year awards.

Ms Mussared was recognised for her role in making the group’s community services more accessible.

Under her guidance, the ACH Group has introduced a single telephone point-of-contact for prospective clients.

“We have a mantra: one face, one place, one number,” said Ms Mussared. “It’s about making a simple point of entrance to our services.”

The group has also established a modern, regional resource centre which acts as a hub for the group’s community service workers and volunteers in the southern region.

“It is a modern building with a large profile – not just a quiet, little cottage,” said Ms Mussared. “It’s a very contemporary, smart office space with a strong customer focus.”

The award presentation at the Adelaide Hilton gave Ms Mussared a chance to promote the industry in a positive light to a diverse business audience.

“I gave a stump speech where I said that aged care is an industry of the future and it is full of really talented people,” she said.

“It was a great opportunity to throw the spotlight on our industry which can be a bit of a shrinking violet and gets some unfairly negative media coverage. I was delighted.”

In the address, she talked about the ACH’s Group’s commitment to supporting good lives, rather than just providing good care.

“Often the older people we support think they are too old to plan, to dream and to set goals. We show they are not,” she said.

“The 76-year-old man is back on his bike – albeit a tandem – after a stroke and the 93-year-old with dementia dresses up every Wednesday night for dinner with friends.”

Ms Mussared is now in the running to win the national innovation award category which will be announced at a ceremony in Melbourne during December.