Our annual end-of-year Q&A series offers leaders and influencers in aged care the chance to share their views and expectations for the year ahead. Submissions can be sent to news@insideageing.com.au
What were your highlights for 2024?
We were pleased to be awarded funding to build and deliver Specialist Dementia Care Programs (SDCP) at our Abri Residential Aged Care Home on the Gold Coast, our EM Tooth Home in Brisbane and our Symes Thorpe Home in Toowoomba. The eight and nine-bed facilities will complement our existing SDCP unit at our St Martin’s Home in North Brisbane and provide much-needed additional specialised care to those living with dementia and their families.
We were humbled to have been recognised in the Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brands survey for a sixth consecutive year in Aged Care and Retirement Villages, and a third consecutive year in Home Care – Queensland. In addition, it was wonderful to celebrate and recognise the outstanding contributions of all of our employees and volunteers at our own Our People awards.
I completed my first year serving on the Board of ACCPA and given it is still an early phase of the merger of two peak aged care organisations, it has been a fulfilling opportunity to support the ACCPA team in furthering their formation and strategy. I was also re-elected to the Board of Anglicare Australia, and with a small yet highly capable team leading critical advocacy work for the Anglicare network, also grateful for the opportunity to support as a Director.
What are you most looking forward to in 2025?
Given we provide services to over 35,000 Queenslanders living in their own homes, and across our residential aged care homes, the implementation of the new Aged Care Act and Support at Home will of course be a significant priority for next year. Whilst we have commenced our business and service transformation work in preparation for the changes, we are looking forward to more detail being released that will enable our organization to continue to adjust, whilst maintaining the highest quality of care for our clients.
What books will you be reading over the summer holiday break?
My reading list is a bit of a look into the diverse writing I enjoy. I want to try author Rory Clements as I love historical fiction and nonfiction; “An Immense World” by Ed Yong; “Growing Grapes Might be Fun” by Diedre Macken; “What Happened to Nina?” by Derva McTiernan; and “Normal Women” by Phillipa Gregory. That’s enough for December and January—I’m a voracious reader!
Our end-of-year Q&A series is supported by Altura Learning, dedicated to helping Australian aged care providers enhance workforce skills and drive business growth.
