LASA honours aged care’s best

Written by Sandy Cheu, Australian Ageing Agenda, October 26, 2020.
View original article here

Clinical support officer John Sison, physiotherapist Simon Kerrigan and Princes Court Homes are among those recognised for their outstanding achievements in aged care in recent awards. 

Leading Age Services Australia’s national awards honouring aged care providers and individuals working in the sector who have demonstrated exceptional talent, innovation and compassion were announced at the LASA Ten Days of Congress last Friday.

Clinical support officer and registered nurse John Sison from Churches of Christ in Queensland picked up the rising star award for his development of a clinical analysis data tool, which has helped improve the wellbeing of residents.

The tool helps the provider monitor trends and analysis of resident care, including tracking of tracking of psychotropic medications, antimicrobial management and clinical data.

Mr Sison said he was honoured to receive the award.

“It is very humbling in a way that I don’t really get awards like this and it’s such a huge honour just for representing Churches for Christ in a very prestigious award,” Mr Sison told Australian Ageing Agenda.

He said the tool is having a positive impact on the organisation.

“I think the clinical care governance component of the organisation changed into a much more modern way of thinking for us [and it] definitely has increased reporting and visibility,” Mr Sison said.

Mr Sison is working on a second and improved version of the tool.

Physiotherpaist Simon Kerrigan, who is managing director of New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Victoria practice Guide Healthcare, won the Next Gen Young Leader Award for the Get Up Guide initiative.

The Get Up Guide is a daily exercise program designed for aged care workers to deliver to residents so minimise deconditioning during COVID. 

The free program, which targets key areas such as lower limb strength, balance and mobility, has been downloaded more than 1,600 times.

Not-for-profit aged care provider Princes Court Homes in regional Victoria picked up the organisation award for its innovative and daring leadership.

The organisation overcame difficulties in attracting allied health professionals by recruiting two highly skilled physiotherapists, who were refugees from Lebanon. Princes Court Homes has also appointed a community liaison officer to explore innovative programs through schools and community groups.

From left: Yvonne Goldman, Eileen Johnstone and Amanda MacNamara from Maurice Zeffert Home

Maurice Zeffert Home, a not-for-profit provider of residential aged care, retirement living and meals on wheels in Western Australia, was recognised for its innovative collaborative leadership model in the team award category.

The organisation adopted a collaborative leadership model instead of having a traditional CEO. The decentralised management is made up of three female executives who work on mutually agreed key areas of responsibility and key performance indicators.

The new structure has improved the organisation’s workplace culture.

Aged care nurse practitioner Keyur Anand from St Anna’s Residential Care Facility in South Australia picked up the individual award for his passion for supporting cultural awareness and values in palliative care.

Mr Anand is developing a virtual reality education platform to communicate with families and clients on end-of-life and palliative care in a culturally sensitive way.

LASA CEO Sean Rooney said the winners demonstrate the type of care that is being delivered across the sector.

“We applaud our award winners for their outstanding effort as organisations, teams and individuals, to provide exceptional care and service to older people who require support,” Mr Rooney said.

“As a nation we should be very appreciative of our age services professionals who, like our award winners, are dedicated, hard-working and passionate people, devoting their careers to making a difference in the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our communities,” he said.

The awards were sponsored by industry super fund HESTA.

The LASA Ten Days of Congress took place as a virtual event on 12 – 23 October.