Another win for GenWise Health and the aged care sector
South Australian based online aged care clinic, Genwise Health, has been announced as the 25th Telstra Australian Business of the Year, and awarded the Telstra Australian Micro Business Award, at the national finals in Sydney.
The innovative business, which uses technology to deliver better care to older Australians and to those in need, was also recently announced as the winner of the 2017 Telstra South Australian Business of the Year as well as a winner in the Australian Business Awards 2017 (ABA100).
Founders Dr Troye Wallett and Dr Sebastian Rees say that winning the Telstra Australian Business of the Year and the Telstra Australian Micro Business awards on top of their other commendations is “incredibly amazing”.
“I remember looking at Troye in disbelief,” Dr Rees says.
“We thought it was so amazing when we won the Micro Business award earlier and we thought that was our piece of success then to have this come up at the end of the night, was a final celebration for the night which really left us on a high.
“The atmosphere was electrifying and the support and cheers from the other finalists and attendees was so incredible.”
For the company, which has been in action for four years now, winning these awards means more than just the recognition that they bring.
“For GenWise this is another opportunity to prove the legitimacy of the model of care that we have created,” Dr Rees says.
“I think this has been one of the main challenges we have faced over the years; however with each award that we win, we have the chance to show the aged care industry and other doctors that innovation and technology can play an important part in the provision of health care services to those in need.
“I personally see this as an essential mindset if we are going to prepare robust models of care to support the increasing number of older Australians needing healthcare in the next 10-15 years.”
With ongoing celebrations, Dr Rees acknowledges the contribution of all those involved in GenWise’s success over the past few years.
“I feel extremely proud of all the GenWise doctors, nurse practitioners and specialists,” he says.
“At the end of the day they are the ones who have made GenWise what it is today.
“We set out at the start of the year with a goal of sharing GenWise with the world, and through the awards we have achieved this.
“Certainly the awards are a great honour, however they are not the goal in themselves but more of a platform and opportunity to share our story and cause and to increase awareness around the need for more GPs in aged care.”
Dr Rees says that Telstra Australian Business of the Year award is an important award not only for the business, but also for the aged care sector.
“GenWise is about providing care to those who need it the most and we are so thankful to the ABA100 and Telstra for their recognition and this opportunity that they have provided to shine the spotlight on aged care – particularly at a time when we need it the most,” he says.
“At the end of the day GenWise is about encouraging more GPs, nurse practitioners and specialists to consider working part time in aged care.
“Whether it is a session a week or more, if we all did just a little bit, we would be able to transform the aged care model and from here, our plan is to continue to do what we do best and that is to deliver the best care we can to those in need.”
A full list of Telstra Business Award winners for 2017 are available online.