Excellence in aged care

Winner

Geraldene Marr

Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care
Redfern, NSW

Geraldene is recognised for her exceptional work at Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care, where she has dedicated a decade to enhancing the lives of elderly Aboriginal community members. 

As the manager of client service offices, she ensures the delivery of high-quality, culturally sensitive care. Geraldene is known for providing innovative programs incorporating traditional healing practices such as bush medicine workshops and cultural storytelling sessions, significantly improving residents' health and sense of cultural identity and belonging. Her efforts in establishing partnerships with local entities have expanded access to comprehensive healthcare services, helping improve health outcomes.

Geraldene's focus on creating a supportive environment and improving staff cultural competence has fostered community within the facility and profoundly impacted the well-being of the Aboriginal Elders and their families. Geraldine aims to further her professional growth by enhancing services and processes at Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care.

Tracy Burling

Burling Aged Care Solutions
Rainbow Flat, NSW

With over three decades in nurse management, Tracy is recognised for pioneering the groundbreaking Burling Turn Assist Bed, which has transformed pressure injury prevention in aged care. 

This innovative bed employs lateral repositioning technology, allowing caregivers to turn residents with a button press. This not only reduces staff injuries but also significantly enhances patient comfort. 

Aged care residents using this bed have shown no pressure injuries and staff have reported no manual handling injuries. Additionally, there has been a 97% reduction in resident repositioning time. The bed promotes uninterrupted sleep for residents, improving their sleep quality. 

Tracy's innovation benefits both individuals and the broader healthcare system by reducing night shift staffing needs, minimising workplace injuries, easing workforce demands, and cutting costs while improving health and safety standards.

Tracy plans to continue developing this technology, incorporating automation and artificial intelligence to raise care standards and safety in the sector globally.

Mark Floresta

HammondCare
St Leonards, NSW

Mark is recognised for developing and implementing the transformative SMS Project at HammondCare at Home (HCAH). 

Timely SMS notifications are sent to clients about caregiver arrivals and changes in schedules, which have significantly impacted the health and well-being of individual clients, and communities. HammondCare has experienced a 82% take-up of the SMS notification service.

The SMS Project has successfully enhanced the overall caregiving experience for clients and their families by addressing the need for improved communication and transparency in aged care services.

As a result of the project, visit cancellations have been reduced by 36%, reflecting improved coordination between clients and the organisation, and has deepened the collaborative relationships in the caregiving process. 

Mark plans to acquire new skills and stay on top of industry trends to enhance workplace processes and services. 

Winner

FRIEND Team

The Good Shepherd Home
Annandale, QLD

The Good Shepherd Home (TGSH) is recognised for its innovative FRIEND program (Frailty Reduction via Implementation of Exercise, Nutritional Support, and Deprescribing). The program aims to reduce frailty through tailored exercise, enhanced nutrition, and careful medication management.

The program, implemented by a multidisciplinary team at TGSH in collaboration with University of Sydney and James Cook University, integrates research with practical applications including the aim of ensuring the program is sustainable in a Residential Aged Care setting.

The program features high-intensity resistance exercise, nutritional optimisation, and medication review to improve resident mobility, independence, and quality of life.

Over the 10-month implementation period, 59 percent of participating residents did not experience a fall, 70 percent gained weight and 20 percent had a drop in the number of medications they were taking. The FRIEND café operates alongside the program, offering high-protein foods post-exercise.

TGSH is expanding the program with support from an aligned Allied Health team and plans to purchase additional gym equipment and further enhance the meal experience to benefit greater numbers of residents. 

ACH Group Social Links Team 

ACH Group
Mile End, SA

ACH Group's Social Links Team is recognised for enriching the lives of people over 60 in Adelaide through its Sing for Joy choirs, which address loneliness and social isolation. 

Over the past few years, the team has expanded the number of choirs in the community from four to six and established one in each of ACH Group’s nine residential care homes, responding to the need for accessibility and increased interest.

The 2023 Pure Imagination performance was a milestone, being the largest to date. Over 100 choir members participated both live and virtually for an audience of 450, showcasing the choir's ability to break negative stereotypes about ageing.

The team is steadfast in its commitment to continue to provide meaningful social experiences, improve access for participants, and accommodate a larger audience, celebrating the vibrant contributions of older South Australians to the community.

The Critical Interim Support Program team

Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL)
Frankston, VIC

The Critical Interim Support Program (CIS) is recognised for its impactful work connecting socially isolated, disadvantaged older people in Greater Melbourne with essential aged care, community, and mainstream services. 

The CIS program addresses service gaps and removes barriers to aged care by providing advocacy and hands-on assistance to older individuals who have limited or no supports and who experience deep socioeconomic disadvantage.

The program's approach is personalised, trauma-informed, and flexible, addressing each client's unique needs. It supports clients in very challenging circumstances, such as living with hoarding and squalor, which are often not supported by other aged care service providers. 

The CIS team's commitment to bridging service gaps has substantially improved the lives of some of Melbourne's most vulnerable and socially isolated older people. Enabling over 90% of their clients to remain living in their own home while receiving the support they need.