Going above and beyond
Nurses in Management Aged Care (NIMAC) acknowledges the often quiet achievements of nurses and carers with commitment and passion.
Above: L to R Winners, Mary Newman and Dianne Smith, Lyn Turner of National Care Solutions (sponsor) and Margaret Ellis. Absent: Jeanelle Everitt
Belated congratulations to the 2011 winners of the Above and Beyond Award in aged care nursing, awarded to three winners at the NIMAC (Nurses in Management Aged Care) conference last month.
Now in its third year, the Above and Beyond Award promotes and recognises an individual or an organisation within the aged care industry that contributes significantly to the quality of life of older people through innovative practices for both staff and residents. The award also acknowledges efforts to increase public confidence and community involvement in aged and community services.
Traditionally there are two winners of the Above and Beyond Award but, according to NIMAC and it’s other sponsor, National Care Solutions, the calibre of nominations this year was so high and the decision so difficult, the judges decided to award a third recipient with the $500 cash prize.
The three winners in 2011 were:
• Mary Newman (AIN) and Dianne Smith (volunteer) from Lutheran Community Care’s Northridge Salem in Toowoomba for the creation of a living dementia garden. Mary and Dianne created the garden in their own time with the help of volunteers both from the site and the community.
• Margaret Ellis, a clinical nurse consultant from Cerity’s Villa Serena on the Gold Coast for both her leadership and management and her consistently strong client focus, particularly through a change of ownership and extensive refurbishments.
• Jeanelle Everitt from Waroona Multipurpose Centre in Charleville, north west Queensland for tireless efforts in developing staff culture and improving quality of care and access to services.
The winners were announced at the NIMAC “heroes and villains”-themed conference dinner. Jeanelle Everitt was not present to receive her award.
The awards:
The awards are bestowed by National Care Solutions and NIMAC through an agreement between both parties. They recognise exceptional contribution by an individual or organisation who has significantly changed and improved the quality of services to older Australians through their actions, commitment and dedication to aged care. The recipient will have made a notable contribution at a local, national and/or state level over a number of years.
Nominations are made via colleagues or peers. The recipients of the awards are determined by a panel made up of one business representative, a representative of National Care Solutions and a representative of NIMAC.
Lyn Turner, director of the awards’ co-sponsor, National Care Solutions, said NIMAC encouraged members to recognise their peers who may be possible worthy recipients of the $500 individual prize.
“We ask people to do more than just think about putting an entry in. It is an easy application that takes no more than half an hour to an hour to write.
She said just knowing someone noticed enough to take the time and write about their exceptional ‘Above and Beyond’ efforts can be reward enough for the nominee.
“Many times our staff go the extra mile simply because of their commitment and never expect a reward. Many times they don’t get this additional effort noticed and of course that is not the reason most will go “Above and Beyond,”” she said.
Study tour:
The other winner announced at NIMAC was the recipient of a fully funded scholarship to attend NIMAC’s inaugural study tour.
The scholarship has been provided as a professional achievement award by consulting and recruitment company, Executive Resource Group with a commitment to fully fund a scholarship for two years – for both 2011’s and 2012’s study tours.
Twenty-one NIMAC delegates are travelling to the Netherlands and Singapore on 1 September. Next year’s study tour will visit both the east and west coasts of the USA in September 2012
