PM leads tributes to aged care workers

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led the tributes to aged care workers on Sunday.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led the tributes on Sunday to Australia’s aged care workforce.

In a video uploaded to Twitter on Aged Care Employee Day, Mr Albanese thanked aged care staff around the country for their “incredible work”.

But in the 30 second video, Mr Albanese said the workforce deserved more than just thanks. “You deserve a government that backs you,” he said. “Which is why we’ll be making a submission to the Fair Work Commission to support a pay increase for aged care workers in line with what the royal commission said was necessary. You take care of the great Australians who built this country. And my government has your back.”

The government’s submission to the FWC was lodged on Monday.

Also on Twitter, Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells expressed her gratitude to the aged care workforce.

In a statement, Aged & Community Care Providers Association interim CEO Paul Sadler said 7 August had become an important date in the calendar, signalling a time to reflect on the critical role played by the aged care workforce.

“It’s a chance for providers and families and loved ones of aged care residents, clients of
home and community care, those in retirement living and seniors housing, to say to staff
‘thanks for caring’, and ‘thanks for all that you do’,” Mr Sadler said.

Everyone in the sector deserved thanks, added Mr Sadler: “The nurses, personal carers, support workers, cooks, gardeners, diversion therapy staff, allied health workers, volunteers, and administrators, who make the lives of older people better.”

The National Ageing Research Institute also paid its respects to aged care workers.

As did the Senior Rights Service.

Now in its fifth year, Aged Care Employee Day was established to recognise the work carried out by the country’s 360,000-plus aged care workforce.

Across the nation, aged care service providers marked the day with staff barbecues and afternoon teas to say thanks to its workers for caring for older Australians.

“I feel like I’m at home rather than work.”

Taking to Twitter, staff at BlueCross Ivanhoe shared why they are proud to work in the aged care sector:

Care Connect posted its thanks to its employees.

A resident’s relative posted their appreciation to Carinity staff on Twitter.

The public also offered its thanks to aged care staff. Members of the community were pictured applauding frontline workers at a HammondCare facility on Sunday.

Community members applauding frontline workers at a HammondCare facility 

Aged care award winners announced

To coincide with Aged Care Employee Day, the winners of the 2022 Excellence in Age Services Awards and the Retirement Village Manager of the Year were announced at the weekend.

The industry awards – supported by peak body Leading Age Services Australia, which is now ACCPA – celebrate the best aged care services delivered to older Australians in residential, home and community care, retirement living and seniors housing settings.

The winners in the Excellence in Age Services Awards are:

  • individual – Melanie Wagner, Lutheran Services, Toowoomba QLD
  • executive leader – Elizabeth Drozd, Australian Multicultural Community Services VIC
  • team – Jasmine Grove Team at IRT Group, Wollongong NSW
  • organisation – Burnie Brae, Chermside QLD
  • volunteer – Taylor Moon, Silverchain Group.

And the Retirement Living Manager of the Year award went to:

  • Roslyn Prentice – John Flynn Retirement Village, Ryman Healthcare.
Roslyn Prentice

Ryman Australia CEO Cameron Holland said Ms Prentice was an extremely deserving recipient.

“Roslyn not only manages the independent living, but residential aged care and serviced apartments and home care as well,” he said. “The size of the team and the responsibility this requires is immense. We are extremely lucky to have a leader like Roslyn as part of the team.”

Since Ms Prentice began working for Ryman in 2019 she has worked at three villages. She has also overseen the establishment and management of John Flynn, including welcoming more than 140 residents to the village and recruiting a team of 90 staff. Upon completion of the village, Ms Prentice will lead 120 staff supporting more than 500 residents.

“I’m incredibly humbled to be named Village Manager of the Year,” said Ms Prentice. “This is an acknowledgement of not only myself, but the amazing people at John
Flynn and at Ryman Healthcare who support me to lead such a fabulous community. Everyday it is an absolute privilege to work with such a dedicated team who
provide outstanding care to our residents.”

Main image: BlueCross Monterey staff enjoy afternoon tea

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Tags: ACCPA, Aged Care Employee Day, anika wells, anthony albanese, blue cross, carinity, featured, hammondcare, paul sadler,

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