Internal rewards

A Queensland aged care provider held its annual awards night for staff last week, with a focus on long service and courage under fire.

Above: Manager of Blue Care’s Brisbane Community Care service, Cathy Thomas, was among 63 staff to receive an award for 20 years’ service at the organisation’s recent internal awards night.

Queensland’s largest aged care provider, Blue Care, held its annual Staff Recognition Night last week, honouring 63 employees for reaching a career milestone of 20 years’ continuous service with the not-for-profit organisation.

Awards were also presented in recognition of staff from 35 services who showed “amazing courage, resilience and innovation” during the natural disasters that hit Queensland earlier this year.

Staff travelled to Brisbane from all over Queensland and northern New South Wales to attend the special evening at Rydges South Bank Hotel in Brisbane. 

Blue Care’s executive director, Robyn Batten, paid tribute to all staff at the event and made special mention of services where staff demonstrated outstanding commitment to clients and residents under extraordinary circumstances. 

“Ninety-nine per cent of Queensland was declared a disaster zone this year when first the floods and then Cyclone Yasi devastated rural and coastal communities,” Ms Batten said.

“This was a devastating time for so many and yet throughout it there were acts of courage and selflessness as Blue Care staff in communities across the state did what they could for people in their care and for friends, families and even strangers.

“These staff truly went above and beyond the call of duty during very testing times and it’s important we acknowledge their tremendous efforts.

“Equally important is the acknowledgment of our staff who have been with us for 20 years, supporting vital care services in their local communities day in and day out.

“Together these staff have dedicated more than two million hours delivering care or support to Australians in need.”

Blue Care Brisbane Community Care Manager Cathy Thomas said she was honoured to receive an award for 20 years service.

“During a placement with Blue Care, before I started working for the organisation, I witnessed the resilience, kindness and ability of the Blue Nurses to adapt to many and varied situations, which really struck a chord with me,” Ms Thomas said. 

“Blue Care undoubtedly changes the lives of the people receiving services.”  

Blue Care is a not-for-profit organisation, which originated in 1953. A service organisation of UnitingCare Queensland, Blue Care offers assistance to 12,500 people each day across community, residential and retirement living settings.

Tags: awards, blue-care, queensland, staff, uniting-care,

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