National aged care awards acknowledge ‘outstanding achievements’

Announced in Sydney as part of the annual ACSA National Summit, the National Awards are recognition of the ‘highest level for work’ in the community, that makes a ‘real difference’ in people’s lives.

The awards acknowledged achievement across six categories including:

• Employee of the Year – won by Joyce Ashworth from Juniper
• Provider of the Year – won by Warrigal
• Innovation in Service or Design – won by Amana Living for their Dedicated Staffing Model
• Volunteer of the Year – Gilbert Hicks from Astley Care Inc
• Trainee of the Year – won by Evan Cox from the Rise Network; and
• Lifetime of Achievement – won by Jennie Hewitt from Feros Care.

ACSA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pat Sparrow has extended ACSA’s warmest congratulations to all those nominated and recognised and thanked them for their generous service.

“The 2018 ACSA Aged Care Awards celebrates the dedication and commitment we see daily and ensure our teams, organisations and colleagues are recognised for that hard work,” she says.

“Whether a winner or not – the fact a nomination has been achieved at a national level is remarkable in itself given just how many extraordinary stories of care we have heard both at our State-based awards, and now on the national stage.”

She further acknowledges the winners of the category awards.

“These individual contributions set a standard for all of us in their example and in turn remind and teach us about the potential all care-givers have to positively affect the lives of those around them,” she says.

Aged care provider Rise Network took to Twitter not long after the award winners were announced to share their excitement, saying “ congrats Evan Cox from Rise Network for winning Trainee of the Year!”

Feros Care is also sharing in the joy of the awards, with CEO Jennene Buckley saying that their winning Jennie “epitomises everything we want in our staff”.

“As those who nominated her rightly highlighted, she is an excellent scholar and diligent researcher, has a compassionate heart and caring soul, and is passionate about giving hope to the old and frail,” Ms Buckley says.

Ms Hewitt, who has been a Positive Living Coordinator at Feros Care’s Wommin Bay residential village since early 2015 says winning the award is a surreal feeling.

“It feels surreal to have been honoured with a lifetime achievement award, especially as such awards have never been my motivation for doing what I do,” she says.

“Rather it is the inspiration of the wonderful older adults we care for that has driven me to strive for change.

“I am so fortunate to have a job that allows me to work with so many inspiring people, whether they are my passionate colleagues at Feros Care or the amazing residents in our villages.”