Resignation but NOT retirement!

Above: Long-standing CEO of RSL Care, Ross Smith, has resigned from the top post

By Yasmin Noone

Many older people will tell you that longevity is a marvelous feature to have and to hold. So too will many of the staff from Queensland and NSW-based community care provider, RSL Care.

Over the last 30 years, the organisation has only ever had two CEOs — the longest serving of the two, Ross Smith, has headed up RSL Care for 16-plus years. But, as is the case with most good things, his longstanding tenure will soon come to an end.

Travel lover and adventure enthusiast, Mr Smith, has announced that he will officially leave his CEO post on Friday 28 October.

But, he insisted, although he is resigning, he is definitely not retiring.

“I’m very uncomfortable with R-words,” Mr Smith said in humour.

“I’m just leaving RSL Care and shifting gears to do more of things I like doing. My ambition is really strong for RSL Care. While I can do a bit more there for a few more years, given the transformation [of the organisation] the board and I have been working on, it’s time for me to move on [now] and do the things I want to do.

“There’s a big bucket list. But equally that word ‘retirement’ has not entered my mind as I’m only changing gears and having more time to do more travel rather than be CEO.”

Mr Smith will continue on in his position as a director of West Moreton-Oxley Medicare Local and through that job, pursue his passion for healthcare reform.

“I’m also getting to a point where I’d like to do a bit more adventure travel…and I’m looking forward to working only four days a week.”

But, he said, “this decision to leave was about having more of a choice about the things I won’t do rather than the things I will do”.

As Mr Smith explains, he has worked since the young age of 15. Now, older and wiser, he is at a point where he is able to step back from being CEO “which calls for your attention 24/7, 365 days a year,” and enjoy a little bit of a break and engage in a “portfolio of things that really fire me up”.

And aged care is, he said, still an issue worthy of igniting that flame. Listing a few elements of the sector which need to be changed, Mr Smith explains how important it is for the Australian aged care community to band together.

“The logic I use behind that is that we are all part of the Australian community. Members of the Australian Defence Force, if overseas, are not New South Welsh people or Queenslanders. They are from one community of Australians. I think we have to start to think [in terms of] Australia.

“The sector’s customer focus has to also get much stronger and some of that requires reform.

Referring to “the absolute mess we have in community care”, Mr Smith would like to see greater continuity within and between community services.

Consolidation of residential aged and community care providers will also secure a stable future of a market-based system of aged care.

“I think the surviving organisation [is going to grow] to be 20 times bigger. There’s going to be consolidation. [And] I’ve been working with the board to bring that vision forward for RSL Care.”

Under Mr Smith’s leadership, RSL Care has grown to become Queensland’s second largest integrated aged care provider.

During his time as CEO, Mr Smith strategically positioned RSL Care as a major Queensland and national provider of residential, retirement and community care.

Under Mr Smith’s leadership, the number of older Australians served has grown from around 1,000 to over 25,000; staff and volunteers grew from 800 to 3,600; turnover increased from $17 million to $240 million; and assets have increased from $75 million to around $1.2 billion.

For the past 18 months the board and Mr Smith also worked together to create a comprehensive strategic review of the organisation which looked at both industry and customer changes.

Chairman of the RSL Care board, Sam Komarowski, credited Mr Smith’s commitment to aged care over the years.

“…His commitment to the Australian aged care sector is renowned and highly regarded,” Mr Komarowski said.

“I look forward to the exciting times and new opportunities ahead for both our customers and our staff.  On behalf of everyone at RSL Care, I would like to thank Ross for his contribution and distinguished service.”
 
The RSL Care Board is currently in the process of selecting a suitable successor.

Mr Smith has been the director of Aged Care Queensland since 1997 and president for the past four years. He is also deputy president of Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) and chairs ACSA’s National Community Care Advisory Committee.