Are you one of 48 finalists for the inaugural ACCPA Excellence Awards? Every nomination named
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The peak body for residential aged care operators will hold an annual Aged Care Employees Day on Wednesday 7 August, which will feature for the first time Excellence Awards.
The 48 finalists for the Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) Excellence Awards have been selected from over 460 nominations received as part of ACCPA’s industry recognition program, ‘You are ACE!’.
Two of the finalists are aged care nurse Cathy Buick, from Coolibah Care in Western Australia, who has retired after 54 years of caring.
“Nursing for me has been a fantastic journey with lots of challenges along the way. I have loved every minute. Caring for people from babies to aged care and everyone in between has been so rewarding,” said Cathy, who has worked at Coolibah Care in Mandurah for the past 17 years.
"All my life nursing has been a great passion for me, and I would definitely encourage people to go into nursing - I loved it.”
Volunteer Anne O’Connor is spreading smiles and warmth with the help of her faithful four-legged companion Ellie May. With Ellie May's wagging tail and their smiling faces, they lift the spirits of all, engaging in lively conversation as part of their weekly visits to The Forrest Centre - an 80-bed residential aged care home in Wagga Wagga.
“I’ve lived 67 years in Wagga. There are quite a few people that I’ve known who grew up in the area and it’s nice to go and have a chat with them. You only need to spend 10 minutes with four to five people. For them it’s like fresh air and brightens up their day,” Anne said.
“(Ellie May’s) the best icebreaker. She’s really good for that, then they love to chat. They’re lovely people and it’s a nice way to fill a little bit of time.”
The full list of finalists:
Individual Category
Leadership
Merle Simms, Clinical Nurse Manager – Ech Inc., SA
Peter Williams, CEO, OneCare Limited, TAS
Thuy Nguyen, Aged & Disability Services Manager, Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association Inc., VIC
Consumer Focus and Care
Arna Dinham, Nurse, Resthaven, SA
Ben (fu To) Wong, Home Support Worker, Accept Care, SA
Cathy Buick, Enrolled Nurse, Coolibah Care, WA
Curt Schmeissing, Aged Care Assistant, Country To Coast Home Care Services, VIC
Innovation
Andrew Curle, CEO, Warrina Homes Inc., SA
Brendon Gakowski, Hotel Services Specialist, Uniting, NSW
Julie Roppola, Lifestyle Services Coordinator, Bolton Clarke, VIC
Rising Star
Ahmed Loze, Banksia Lodge, Broulee, NSW
Jo Garrett, Receptionist, Just Better Care Mid North Coast, NSW
Kelly Roberts, Service Manager, Palm Lake Care, Deception Bay, QLD
Melissa Taylor, Lifestyle Manager, Oryx Communities, WA
Virginia Savva, Lifestyle Team Leader, Greek Orthodox Community Home For The Aged, NSW
Volunteer
Anne O’Connor, Volunteer, Mary Potter Nursing Home, NSW
Julie Garamy, Volunteer Administration and Service Coordinator, BCR Communities, NSW
Nickolas Makrynakis, Volunteer, Fronditha Care, VIC
Team Category
Making a difference
Banksia Village team, Banksia Villages Ltd., NSW
Hoarding & Squalor team, Footprints Community, QLD
Lifestyle team, Akooramak Aged Care, QLD
Consumer Focus and Care
Gocha Kitchen team, Greek Orthodox Community Home For The Aged, NSW
Graduate Enrolled Nurses Deb, Mal, Bonnie and Romelyn, Barossa Village, SA
Residential Care team, Anglicare Community Services, NSW
Innovation
May Shaw Health Centre Inc., TAS
Oryx Communities, WA
KinCare, NSW
Project
Burnie Brae Respite team, Burnie Brae, QLD
Strategic Projects team, Comlink Australia, QLD
Teamwork
Jacaranda & Wanneroo team, Elderbloom Community Care Centres, WA
Kirami Intergenerational Playgroup, Anglicare Southern Queensland, QLD
Residential Care team, Anglicare Community Services, NSW
Organisation
Excellence
Banksia Village, NSW
Greek Orthodox Community Home For The Aged, NSW
Consumer Focus and Care
Gallipoli Home Gastronomy, NSW
Gratis Home Care, SA
Inasmuch Community Ltd, NSW
Innovation
Anglicare Community Services, NSW
Inasmuch Community Ltd, NSW
Melville Cares, WA
Making a Difference
Brotherhood Of St Laurence, VIC
Fronditha Care, VIC
Home Instead Central Coast & Newcastle, NSW
Resthaven Paradise, SA
Rural and Remote
Aged Care Deloraine, TAS
Care In Motion, Community Care And Transport, SA
Murray Mallee Aged Care Group Inc., SA
Tenterfield Care Centre, NSW