Innovation recognised

LEADING Aged Services Australia (LASA) has announced its national excellence awards that recognise outstanding achievements and contributions by its members.

LASA CEO Sean Rooney said that although it had been a challenging year for LASA members it did not stop staff and organisations from striving to achieve the best of the best in delivering high quality and safe aged services for older Australians.

“They are the ones who innovate and who show incredible dedication and compassion in providing services in retirement villages, independent living, home care support and residential aged care,” Sean said.

“In 2021, we recognise some outstanding achievements by our members who have drawn on their creativity and enthusiasm, and who have simply gone that extra mile to deliver for their clients.”

The hinterland-based Blackall Range Care Group (known as RangeCare) was the winner of the Organisation award.

During the initial COVID-19 lockdown, the team at RangeCare found a way to keep its 150 staff employed and to keep supporting its 2,000 clients by providing meal delivery services using local produce, an in-home hairdressing service and an iPad loan service including free internet and tuition.

The judges said Blackall Range Care Group provided a wonderful example of how functional, practical and efficient partnerships with aged care can benefit residents of a community both socially and economically.

The integration of client needs and community business was definitely a win-win that came out of a pandemic. The initiative, compassion and pro bono efforts all came together to support vulnerable people in lockdown.

RangeCare CEO Greg Mannion said he was “really proud of what we were able to deliver during the pandemic”.

“I don’t think a lot of people realise that all our clients were thrown into a situation where they were told to stay at home for an extended period of time,” Greg said.

“Many didn’t have family or any other support. To be able to get them through that in the innovative ways that our people were able to come up with to help really makes me proud to be a part of this industry.

“I’d just like to say, I hope what we have done and the story of RangeCare over this pandemic demonstrates to others in the industry that it is possible to deliver exactly what the clients need when they need it. I know we strive to do that day in and day out and I encourage others to do the same,” Greg said.

RangeCare is currently looking for new volunteers to assist with a range of activities including a volunteer gardener to take care of its kitchen garden at Nambour. It is also looking for volunteers to work in its op shop in Mapleton, aqua aerobics volunteers to assist clients at their aqua aerobics class and kitchen support volunteers in the Nambour Day Respite Centre.

For more information contact the volunteer coordinators on 5445 7044 or email volunteers@brcg.org.au

Main image: 92 year old Neta has rejoined her local book club thanks to RangeCare’s iPad loan service and weekly tuition

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