INSIGHTS FROM INDUSTRY
UNIQUE INDUSTRY AWARDS BOOSTING MORALE FOR AGED CARE STAFF ACKNOWLEDGING ROLES IN AGED CARE THAT OFTEN GO UNNOTICED
T
he age services industry has been hit hard throughout the Aged Care Royal Commission hearings and the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents in aged care have had their homes turned into isolated COVID-safe environments and staff have had to adapt to new ways of doing things in order to provide care, hospitality, and lifestyle activities in ways they had never imagined. Despite considerable unfavourable media stories over the past year, the reality is the vast majority of providers and staff members have their clients’ and residents’ best interests at heart, they are in the business of caring, because they care, and they do that very well. While nurses and carers are often recognised because of their high-profile roles, the roles and professions that often fly under the radar, are those that keep aged care homes running— chefs, cooks, cleaners and providers of wellness activities.
The HLAC Awards highlight the wonderful work of unsung heroes in residential aged care.
Wanting to give kudos to her colleagues, she noticed none of the applications she put forward met any of the awards eligibility criteria, hence, the HLAC Awards was born. “All people working in aged care need to be empathetic, passionate, caring people who go the extra mile for their residents, but there are some roles that often go unnoticed. “We want to acknowledge them and give back to those professionals who have shown dedication and commitment to improving the quality of resident care, through quality catering, cleaning, laundry or lifestyle services within residential aged care,” said Belinda. After the success of previous years, the HLAC awards is now in its third year of operation. For the 2021 program, people can be nominated as teams or individuals, within the following categories:
SoupedUp, a provider of catering software for aged care homes, believes it’s time to change that.
• Excellence In Catering Service
“Aged care homes, provider teams and individual staff members across Australia have gone, and continue to go, above and beyond for their residents,” said Belinda Adams, CEO and Founder of SoupedUp.
• Hospitality Manager of the Year
“We think they ought to be recognised for their commitment, dedication and care.”
• Laundry Services Individual of the Year
SoupedUp is encouraging aged care homes to say thanks to colleagues and spread some cheer by nominating them for the 2021 Hospitality & Lifestyle Aged Care (HLAC) Awards. The HLAC Awards recognise and reward outstanding team members across catering (chefs, cooks, food service assistants), cleaning, laundry and lifestyle services within aged care homes. Having worked in the industry for over a decade, Belinda saw the multitude of aged care awards programs available, but quickly realised there were none that focused only on hospitality and lifestyle staff.
• Catering Innovation Through COVID-19 • Chef/Cook of the Year • Food Service Assistant of the Year • Cleaner of the Year • Lifestyle/Activities Individual of the Year • Outstanding Event/Theme Day The national winners from each award category, as judged by a qualified panel of independent industry judges, will be announced at the HLAC Awards gala dinner, to be held (COVID-19 willing) on 29 October 2021 in Melbourne. Nominations for the 2021 HLAC Awards are open until 13 August 2021. To nominate for the 2021 HLAC Awards visit soupedup. com/hlac2021
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