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COMMITTED TO EXCEPTIONAL CARE
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ABOUT HALL & PRIOR Started in 1992 by Michael Hall and Graeme Prior, Hall & Prior is a leading aged care provider with a passion for providing quality care to older people from all walks of life. Over the past 20 years, Hall & Prior has grown from one nursing home to an organisation that cares for over 1,500 people in Western Australia and New South Wales. Our people are our greatest asset. Each one of our 25 aged care homes is led by an experienced director of nursing who works alongside a team of registered nurses, personal carers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, dieticians and chefs to ensure that we meet the individual needs of every resident. As a private, family-owned company, Hall & Prior is committed to bringing long-term benefits to our residents and their families. Our dedicated care teams provide round-the-clock care 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure that every resident feels well cared for and at home.
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IN THIS ISSUE
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From the Chief Executive Officer
Premier celebrates breaking ground of world-class aged care project Rainbow Tick awarded for Tuohy Aged Care Home Celebrating the Diwali, the festival of lights
Cate Barlow: A life well spent
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Annual tradition blooms at Grafton Aged Care Home Honouring the Anzacs on Remembrance Day
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Menaville staff sleep under the stars for homeless youth charity News in brief
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Diwali celebrations at Tuohy Aged Care Home
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FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Welcome to the final edition of Life & Love for 2018. What a year…we’ve reached a number of milestones this year with many significant developments in the past few months in particular. At our world-class aged care facility Karingal Green we officially turned the sod with West Australian Premier Mark McGowan overseeing the proceedings. Work is progressing nicely ahead of the official opening in 2019. At an industry level, the Royal Commission into Aged Care is underway. It will examine the core practices of every aged care organisation in Australia and how well we provide care to older people. We support the establishment of the Royal Commission and its endeavour to raise the bar on industry standards.
As an organisation, we will grow and learn through this process and become even more accountable. The hard work of the wonderful team at Tuohy Aged Care Home is also in the spotlight this edition, led by residential Care Manager Jayne Cummings. Tuohy is the first residential aged care home in Australia to be accredited for the Rainbow Tick Standards, which recognise organisations who are committed to safe and inclusive care of LGBTI elders. This is an incredible achievement and one that shows our commitment to caring for people from all walks of life. I look forward to seeing this program rolled-out throughout our organisation in the future.
Our staff provide excellent care for more than 2,000 people, many of whom are among the most vulnerable in our communities.
In this issue we pay tribute to our beloved Cate Barlow, Director of Nursing at Kensington Aged Care Home who is retiring after 11 wonderful years with us. She is a former nurse who is known for her compassionate but nononsense approach and will be greatly missed by her team and the Hall & Prior team at large.
Ensuring the safety and high quality care of every individual in our homes is our top priority, and we welcome this move towards ensuring all care recipients across Australia are treated with the same respect.
We’ll also hear about how the staff at Menaville Aged Care Home in Sydney raised close to $6,000 in funds to support homeless youth charity Stepping Stone House, who give young people a second chance.
As always there’s so many inspiring stories to share about our staff and our homes, the hardest part of putting together Life & Love is deciding what to leave out. And finally as we head into the festive season, I encourage you to rest, reflect and spend time with your loved ones. Thank you all for your support this year; I look forward to a hard-working and prosperous 2019. GRAEME PRIOR Chief Executive Officer
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West Australian Premier Mark McGowan and Hall & Prior CEO Graeme Prior
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PREMIER CELEBRATES BREAKING GROUND OF WORLD-CLASS AGED CARE PROJECT
Dignitaries including the Hon. Mark McGowan, Premier of Western Australia; the Hon. Ken Wyatt, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care; and Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, Assistant Minister for Home Affairs were in attendance to break ground at the $90 million world-class Karingal Green Aged Care Precinct in High Wycombe on October 10. Premier Mark McGowan said the precinct would be a welcome addition to supporting WA and its ageing population. “Once built, Karingal Green through its standout facilities, is expected to offer a new and innovative approach to aged care in WA,” he said. Construction of the much-anticipated project commenced in June this year. The residential aged care precinct offers high-level, 24/7 care services in accordance with world’s best practice;
with 160 beds dedicated to caring for those with all levels of aged care needs. There will also be specialist services for eight young disabled residents, four severely disabled residents, eight residents with Parkinson’s disease and 14 with severe dementia. Karingal Green will also be home to an education, learning & development centre along with an auditorium. Hall & Prior Chief Executive Officer Graeme Prior was present for the sod-turning ceremony. “Karingal Green is a space where care, support and compassion are pivotal, and where no person walks alone,” Mr Prior said. “It is a purpose-built space for healing and soothing the soul, with access to state-of-the-art amenities including therapeutic pool, wellness
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Drone view of Karingal Green, November 2018
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centre, gymnasium, café, cinema and a primary and allied health clinic.” The Hall & Prior owned and operated project was designed by award-winning international architects Hassell Studio and is being built by Broad Construction. The facility will leverage Hall & Prior’s award-winning care program with mobile professionals providing much needed in-home and community aged care services to people within the local region. “The modern, contemporary design and highquality health services and facilities are impressive, delivering a much-needed aged care precinct to cater for the needs of local people and their families,” Mr Prior said. “The precinct will connect with the surrounding region so residents can still contribute and participate within the wider community and unite with friends and family as they so desire.” Mr Prior said Karingal Green will additionally be a hub for learning, and with a focus on the betterment of staff. “This precinct for health and wellness is also a place for education, a veritable university for aged care with a dedicated research, training and education centre,” he said. “Comprehensive research programs will be based in the precinct with our research partners and facilities catering to training and educational events.” Opening in December 2019, the project has been
supported by the Commonwealth Government’s Department of Health contributing $12 million of capital funding support, $41 million in senior debt from National Australia Bank and subordinated finance from The Fire & Emergency Services Superannuation Fund. “Hall & Prior are strong believers that the culture and universality of care needs to be redefined - particularly in regards to aged care and the disabled,” Mr Prior said. “We’ve pushed to create world-class facilities and services that will further this cultural change and propel the industry forward.” Karingal Green is the first of three new developments for Hall & Prior in Perth over the next two years – all of which are fully financed. The company is investing $300 million into health and aged care infrastructure development in Western Australia over the next four years. “Our investment will deliver an additional 650 beds and 600 virtual beds out in the community across WA and New South Wales, plus a further investment of $50 million into currently existing homes,” Mr Prior said. “What this translates into is 900 new jobs over four years.” • Karingal Green is located on Hawkevale Road, High Wycombe. • To register for project updates, visit karingalgreen.com.au • For further information contact: hayley@swiftbrownfox.com 0407 353 250
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GLBTI Rights in Ageing Deputy Chair Jacqui Tibbits, Tuohy’s Director of Care Services Jayne Cummings, Hall & Prior’s Executive Director of Residential Care – Regional Leader Deborah Sinclair-Lane and Leading Aged Services Australia’s WA State Manager Christine Allen.
RAINBOW TICK AWARDED FOR TUOHY AGED CARE HOME Hall & Prior are proud to announce that Tuohy Aged Care Home has been successfully accredited for the Rainbow Tick Standards. The nationally recognised Standards are approved for organisations that are committed to safe and inclusive service delivery for lesbian, gay, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.
will be welcomed and respected is of vital importance.
Across Australia, more than 11 per cent of people identify as LGBTI, and there is concern across the aged care industry about ensuring our elders receive appropriate care that suits their individual needs. Many LGBTI people have faced discrimination and abuse for their entire life, so creating spaces where they know they
Jayne and the staff at Tuohy have worked closely with Perth-based group GLBTI Rights in Ageing (GRAI) since 2014 to educate staff and ensure residents’ needs are met with inclusive and appropriate actions.
Led by Tuohy’s Director of Care Services Jayne Cumming, Clinical Nurse Manager Mina Pindolia and Administration Officer Fiona Clarkson, the 49bed home is located in the suburb of Midland, in Perth’s east.
This program was also recognised with a 2015 Commonwealth Better Practice
Award from the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency for their work to create an inclusive culture within the home. These awards acknowledge the most innovative programs and initiatives in the industry, and encourage aged care providers to share knowledge and ideas. In 2018, an additional course was implemented to further the learning outcomes from the GRAI course. After completing the initial training with GRAI, staff can also choose to further their studies and complete an additional online course with Dementia Training Australia (DTA). The course explores the lived experiences of LGBTI people, key considerations for the care of older LGBTI people
and how organisations can become more inclusive. Upon completion of the e-course, staff are presented with a rainbow butterfly pin to wear while they work. “The rainbow butterfly is an important emblem for Tuohy and this program,” Jayne said. “By displaying this small but significant symbol, we hope to show anyone we meet that we are committed to providing inclusive care.” Within Hall & Prior, a working group was established to review and edit our organisation’s policies and procedures, ensuring they were in line with the Rainbow Tick Standards and recommendations from other inclusive organisations such as GRAI. Jayne worked with Director of Residential Care – Regional Leader Jennifer Grieve, Manager of People and Risk Linda Jackson, Hamersley Director of Nursing Terri Woolhouse, Learning and Development Coordinator Felicia Lopez, Director of Quality, Safety and Compliance Julie Beaton and Hall & Prior’s Resource Team partners. “Every implementation process needs to have a wellrounded team from across the organisation, and each person brought unique knowledge and insight to the table,” Jayne said. “Going forward, we will continue to review organisationwide policies and procedures regularly, to ensure we continue to improve.” All Australian aged care homes are governed by the Accreditation Standards set by the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency. Previously, providing
service that was inclusive to the needs of LGBTI individuals was optional, but with the upcoming changes to the Standards, it will become necessary for providers to show how they are supporting diversity. Jayne is also part of an external Community of Practice, a working group that supports other organisations in their journeys to becoming more inclusive. “Going forward, we’re expecting more organisations to come forward and work toward inclusivity, so through the Community of Practice I am able to share lessons learned through Tuohy’s journey,” Jayne said.
Although organisation-wide policies and procedures are a key part of ensuring inclusive care, Jayne said that the attitudes and behaviours of staff are the key to excellent care. “Without the staff and their caring and open natures, and the way they embrace the training, we wouldn’t have been able to succeed,” she said. “The staff are the ones who make Tuohy a welcoming environment, and I am extremely proud to see the amount of people have gone on to complete the extra training and receive their rainbow butterfly pin. They are now ambassadors for this program.”
Now that Tuohy has its Rainbow Tick accreditation, the next step will be bringing the program to our other facilities. To begin with, from January 2019, Hall & Prior’s Core Training program, delivered annually to every member of staff in Western Australia, will include a specific section focusing on caring for LBGTI elders. “At Hall & Prior’s other homes, the staff are not ready for the Rainbow Trick because they haven’t been brought on the journey, and they haven’t seen this project develop over time,” Jayne said. “We want people to embrace this program and embrace the change. It has been great to see so many staff members feel so passionate about this program they become our rainbow butterfly ambassadors, and this is something we hope to see at other homes.” Among the celebrations, Jayne wanted to acknowledge the individual who began this process back in 2014. “One of our residents Ralene, who has sadly now passed away, was the one who got us to start this journey,” Jayne said. “It’s because of her that we learned how important it is to empower LGBTI people to come forward and say what they want, and the care they require. It also showed it how crucial it is that, as facility managers and staff, we advocate on behalf of our residents and in their best interests.” Hall & Prior Chief Executive Officer Graeme Prior congratulated the Tuohy team on their achievement. “It is Jayne’s passion for supporting and advocating on behalf of each and every person in her care that makes her such an exceptional leader,” he said.
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ROYAL COMMISSION UPDATE The Royal Commission into Aged Care was announced by the Morrison Government in September 2018. Hall & Prior received an opportunity to contribute to the Royal Commission through a formal invitation received in late November. The invitation requests that Hall & Prior provide a response on eight issues that have been identified by the commissioners as of importance, and range from:
• Identifying any historical instances of care that did not meet our expectations • Documenting all complaints received and how we have improved our practice as a result • Identifying issues that are faced by younger residents in our care, and why their care needs are such that they have come to a residential aged care facility • Identifying barriers our care recipients have in accessing other health services once they are in our care • Discussing how Hall & Prior has undertaken reflective practice to improve the health outcomes for care recipients Hall & Prior is committed to continuous improvement in all facets of our business. Participation in the Royal Commission is an opportunity for further reflective practice that will improve the care and service provided to our care recipients in the future.
“This achievement is a shining example of Hall & Prior’s commitment to promoting individuality, diversity and inclusivity.”
We also see it as an important avenue for Hall & Prior to contribute to the public policy debate regarding changes that are required at an industry level. With a workforce of more than 2,000 people, Hall & Prior has vast expertise to lean on to generate important policy recommendations for the future.
Congratulations again to all those involved with this exceptional program.
Hall & Prior’s response to the Royal Commission is due 7 January 2019. If you have any feedback for us on anything relating to the Royal Commission, contact royalcommissionenquiries@hallprior.com.au
CELEBRATING THE DIWALI, THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Throughout Hall & Prior homes, there is an extremely diverse array of people from different nations and walks of life. Celebrating special events from different cultures is a great way to bring our residents, staff and the community together. Diwali is a five-day festival of lights, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world. The festival, which coincides with the Hindu New year, celebrates new beginnings
and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. It is traditionally a time for family members and friends to spend quality time together and exchange gifts. On Wednesday, November 7, residents, family members and friends of Tuohy Aged Care Home gathered for an afternoon of dancing and entertainment, with homemade Indian food prepared especially for the event.
Staff and residents at Tuohy Aged Care Home celebrated Diwali in November.
Jayne said the whole home was always keen to embrace other culture’s celebrations. “Days like these are really important, because our staff and residents can embrace their own culture, traditions and diversity, and share it with everyone else,” Jayne said. “It also means our residents can try experience different foods and different smells, and have a fun time as well.”
ANNUAL TRADITION BLOOMS AT GRAFTON AGED CARE HOME
Without a doubt, the biggest event on the Grafton calendar is the annual Jacaranda Festival. Locals from across the Clarence Valley region travel to the northern New South Wales town each year to see the spectacular jacaranda trees during their one-month blooming period between mid-October and mid-November. The colourful festival also attracts many interstate and international visitors. Residents at Grafton Aged Care Home enjoyed the festival and many activities throughout the celebration period, and spent time reflecting on the long, rich history of this wonderful week. Running from Saturday, October 27 to Sunday, November 4, it was wonderful for residents to witness the jacaranda trees throughout the town blooming
in lilac glory, right on time for this year’s festivities. Inaugurated in 1934, the Jacaranda Festival was the first of Australia’s folk festivals and celebrates the magnificent spectacle of the hundreds of lilac-blossomed trees that grow in Grafton’s broad tree-lined avenues. Seed merchant and nursery owner Henry Volkers introduced the first jacaranda trees to Grafton, and while this traditional festival has changed since its humble beginnings, the natural spectacle is still widely celebrated within the town each year. When it began, the festival was one of the few types of entertainment to look forward to, and when jacaranda time rolled around each year, the entire town was in high spirits. Even during the difficult times
of World War I, this festival had a way of lifting the spirits of those in the community and giving them something wonderful to celebrate. A public holiday is observed locally on the first Thursday of the latter month, making it easier for locals to attend the Festival’s main market day. Part of the tradition is the crowning of a Jacaranda Queen and her entourage, with many local young women getting involved each year. On Monday, October 29, Grafton Aged Care residents were treated to a visit from the Jacaranda Queen and her entourage. Many residents were excited to have the perfect photo opportunity with Bronte Cameron, the 75th crowned Jacaranda Queen. Later in the week, Jacaranda Thursday saw Prince Street
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come alive with street vendors, including a stall to promote Hall & Prior and Grafton Aged Care Home. Back at the home, the residents and their families enjoyed a delicious BBQ with some wonderful entertainment by local music act Country Heritage. The Jacaranda Float procession was a stunning display of community spirit with approximately 60 clubs, schools and local organisations including Grafton Aged Care Home dressing up trucks to be a part of the float procession. The Grafton CBD came alive with a riot of colour and sound for this spectacular annual procession down the main street of Grafton. The Grafton Aged Care Home float this year was alive with the theme ‘Supporting the Famers’.
The float was decorated with country themed items including a blue heeler dog, life-size cut-outs of cows and horses and blow-up kangaroos. The home’s staff, led by Director of Nursing Julie Spicer and Lifestyle Officer Cherie Onus enjoyed a truly memorable day being driven down the main streets of Grafton. We wish to thank Blanchard’s Transport, who kindly donated their truck to our home for use in the float procession. Also a big thank you to the driver of the float, Nathan Kent, who also donated his time and enabled Hall & Prior and Grafton Aged Care Home to take part in the float procession. Since acquiring Grafton Aged Care Home in April 2017, Hall & Prior have been busy getting to know the local community.
By sponsoring the Jacaranda Festival, Hall & Prior have had the opportunity to be part of some of the biggest attractions during the Jacaranda Festival week. As a relatively new business to the region, it has been a priority to introduce our business ethos in a positive and approachable way to ensure locals understand the benefits and experience that Hall & Prior will bring to the their area in the care of their local elders. Well done to everyone involved in this very fun and purple week of festivities. Perhaps next year Grafton Aged Care Home will have an entrant to two into the Jacaranda Queen competition…
PAYING OUR RESPECTS TO THE ANZACS Reflecting on the life changing moments of the last century, everything really starts with the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I in 1918. Many of the people who live in our aged care homes have lived through the turmoil of war, so it is important to celebrate the end of a war that was etched into their early lives and so greatly affected Australia’s culture. As many of our residents are unable to attend Remembrance Day services out in the community, we strongly believe in ensuring they are able to pay their respects to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Sunday, November 11, 2018 marked the 100th anniversary of the Armistice which ended the First World War. This was a momentous time in history when the guns of the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare. From the summer of 1918, the five divisions of the Australian Corps had been at the forefront of the Allied advance to victory. Beginning with their stunning success at the battle of Hamel in July, they helped to turn the tide of the war at Amiens in August, followed by the capture of Mont St Quentin and Pèronne, and the breaching of German
defences at the Hindenburg Line in September. By early October of that year, the exhausted Australians were withdrawn from battle. They had achieved a fighting reputation out of proportion to their numbers, but victory had come at a heavy cost. They suffered almost 48,000 casualties during 1918, including more than 12,000 dead. To commemorate and remember the sacrifices made during the Centenary of Armistice, each of our homes in New South Wales ran a beautiful exhibition of unique artworks created by our residents. Each person was asked to create a piece of art that conveyed their
thoughts and feelings about this historic period, and the wider effects it had on families across the nation. It was moving to see the emotions and memories put down on canvas and proudly displayed to family, friends and community members for each home. Residents of Glenwood Residential Aged Care Home also enjoyed making poppies and laying them in the outdoor garden. The home’s Director of Nursing Kristine Min said the outdoor artwork was the highlight of this year’s event. “Our residents created a lot of poppies which we were proud
to display around a giant metal poppy, which was cut and shaped by the son of our Administration Officer Anne Tanner’s son,” she said. Clover Lea Residential Aged Care Home ran an emotional service for Remembrance Day around their resident’s artwork exhibition.
Cate Barlow spoke about not forgetting those who had been left behind when others went off to war. While many of our young country’s adult males were off on distant shores, it was the women they left behind, mothers, sisters, wives, to keep our nation’s society and economy running.
“It was great to see how enthusiastic our staff and residents were to create this exhibition and our Remembrance Day service,” the home’s Director of Nursing Irene Whippy said. “The service we ran at the home was incredibly moving, particularly with the one minute’s silence.
The residents also joined in with a rendition of God Save the Queen, played after the Australian National Anthem. Also in Perth, staff, residents and their family members gathered in the home’s courtyard to acknowledge those who had been affected by conflicts worldwide.
Family members of our residents were still talking about it several weeks later.” At Kensington Park Aged Care Home, Director of Nursing
Director of Nursing Sharron Magennis recited the poem In Flanders Fields, which describes the poppies that grew in the Western Front, covering the sites of battle and bloodshed.
We wish to thank all those involved with organising these services throughout all of our homes, as well as the relatives and community members who joined us.
CATE BARLOW: A LIFE WELL SPENT This December we bid farewell one of Hall & Prior’s long-serving Directors of Nursing, Cate Barlow. A former nurse, Cate has been at Kensington Aged Care Home, located just south of the Perth CBD, for 11 years. This 53-bed home specialises in caring for people with dementia, and Cate and her dedicated team of staff work hard to provide the love, mercy and care that each individual deserves. To honour Cate’s time with us, we are pleased to share some of her history. Growing up in Queensland, Cate trained as a nurse at a repatriation hospital in Brisbane, helping wounded veterans recover and adjust to life back on home soil, before going on to study midwifery at St Margaret’s Hospital. Over the following years as a young nurse she worked in several positions different positions, including as a school nurse at Armadale Boy’s School in New South Wales. Inspired by family members who had migrated over to Western Australia, Cate headed west and spend time working at Northam Regional Hospital, before moving to Perth to work at Charles Gairdner Hospital. Cate’s passion for helping others is evident not only in the care and compassion she shows, but in her passion for education. One of her first roles as an educator was at the College of Nursing in Queensland, teaching student nurses.
“It was while I was in that role I realised that the existing systems of education were greatly lacking in care, so I wanted to change that,” she said. “I have always been politically involved with nursing throughout my career. I was part of the group that assisted in transferring hospital-based education to universities in the 1980s. We marched on the streets to get that through.” Another passion project for her was changing the traditional uniform for nurses. As someone who has never been afraid to speak her mind, Cate was a strong advocate for removing the veil from the uniform. “I just didn’t believe that it was necessary for nurses to wear it,” she said. “Putting on a veil didn’t make you a nurse, and I always disliked having to fuss with carefully pinning in the cap and veil.” Alongside her nursing-related activism, Cate has also lectured in medical nursing and assisted specialists who would deliver lectures, providing further insight from the nursing perspective. She said that this role, along with her work at Hollywood Hospital in Perth, gave her the nursing expertise in clinical care that has been so valuable throughout her later career. She started working in aged care when she was approached by Mercy Aged Care to set up community aged care packages. Community care
packages assist older people to continue living independently in their own home by coordinating visits from clinical and care staff, as well as support with household tasks such as cleaning or meal preparation. “At that time, community care wasn’t widely recognised as an aged care service, it was only residential aged care homes,” she said. “So when I came to the sector I really saw the need for this to be acknowledged. Part of this was ensuring that information relevant to community care services was included in the program for the Certificate III in Aged Care, which is the basis for all aged care training.” Cate joined Hall & Prior as Director of Nursing of Kensington Aged Care Home in 2007, where she has spent the past 11 years. The 53-bed home specialises in caring for people with dementia, and Cate said she was pleased to bring the skills and competencies gained from previous roles to this position. She has led the home through three accreditations with the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency, the industry’s peak governing body, in 2010, 2013 and 2016. During that time the home was also recognised with a Commonwealth Better Practice Award in 2012 for their project to improve behaviour management for people with dementia. These prestigious industry awards recognises innovative programs which improve the lives of people in care.
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Each year, our organisation’s Directors, Michael Hall and Graeme Prior recognise exceptional members of staff with the Hall & Prior Directors’ Awards. Cate has been the recipient of several awards, most recently for Outstanding Leadership in 2016. She is also extremely proud of an award for exceptional teamwork that was presented to the entire group of staff at the home in 2014, acknowledging the hard work of every member of staff. Underpinning Cate’s approach to care is her firm belief that best practice comes out of tailoring interactions and activity to each persons’ specific needs and preferences, as well as advocating for residents and the role of the nurse. With a close-knit group of longserving staff members, the team focuses on providing individualised care that aims
“I was part of the group that assisted in transferring hospital-based education to universities in the 1980s. We marched on the streets to get that through.” to ensure residents’ lives are as normal as possible, and that everyone has a home-like experience. “The staff have always been stable at Kensington Park, it’s common for people to stay for many years,” she said. “We are also fortunate to have a culturally diverse workforce here, with people from many different countries.” Encouraging her team to continue learning and improving their skillsets is another key part of Cate’s leadership style, and she has supported many members of staff to progress to more senior
positions within Hall & Prior. “The unwavering support that I have received from Hall & Prior’s Regional Leaders, Jennifer Grieve and Deborah Sinclair-Lane, as well as assistance from the Resource Team, has been invaluable,” she said. “I would also like to thank the Directors of Hall & Prior, Graeme Prior and Michael Hall, who emulate the mission of dignity and respect to their employees.” Congratulations Cate on 11 years with Hall & Prior, and we wish you all the best for the future.
MENAVILLE STAFF SLEEP UNDER THE STARS FOR SYDNEY HOMELESS YOUTH CHARITY The night of October 26 was a different world for a team of Menaville Aged Care Home staff, who slept rough and raised $5,800 for youth charity Stepping Stone House. Director of Nursing Emma Juretic, Lifestyle Officer Margaret Rayner and Administration Officer Christine Ruglass, along with two friends Olivia and Aleta, joined the event held at Hickson Road Reserve in The Rocks, Sydney. The group slept rough in a handmade shelter made of cardboard boxes during a clear, starry night to experience what it’s like to be homeless firsthand. Stepping Stone House is a non-profit organisation that provides medium- to long-term accommodation and support for young people aged 12 to 24 who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or who are living away from their families. Established in 1989, the organisation aims to develop the self-esteem, resilience, selfconfidence and health of their clients through motivational learning experiences including outdoor education and adventures. The ultimate outcome is for the young people they care for to become
responsible, independent and live to their full potential. Since its inception, Stepping Stone House has helped more than 300 young people. The idea was to create a secure and safe location for young people in need, most of whom came from an environment of neglect, abandonment, abuse, with exposure to drugs, alcohol and violence, complicated by mental health issues. Young people who live at the Stepping Stone Houses will often stay for several years, giving them the time necessary to undo the impact the trauma has had on their young lives. The individuals are often referred to the organisation from across New South Wales by organisations such as Community Services, Juvenile Justice, crisis accommodation services, as well as by selfreferral. For many of these young people, their lives have been so turbulent and disrupted and that many of them have never experienced a stable, safe and secure living arrangement. Participants in the event had to create their own shelter to sleep in, using cardboard boxes and tarpaulins. The Menaville team created a nautical-themed
shelter that would make any pirate proud, creating a ship that even featured its very own guard crocodile. Emma said the team were proud of their creation. “The boxes were donated for the cause and he had a lot of fun working together to build our shelter,” she said. “We spent the whole time talking about the reality of people who do actually have to live like this permanently, so we were glad that we could do our bit to help. “Fundraising was the main focus, and the whole home joined in the fun by having a pyjama day event at Menaville on the day of the sleepout. All the staff looked very comfortable while working in their bedclothes.” Over the years, Stepping Stone House has created a practical and proven set of developmental ‘stepping stones to independence’, which give the organisation its name. It provides young people with safe environment, where the staff can interact and engage with them and work towards building a meaningful, therapeutic and non-judgmental relationship.
The charity assists the young people in meeting their primary needs of food, water, shelter and safety. The service has 24-hour supervision and the staff work as a team to provide care to the young people. Each staff member is chosen because of their unique skillset and commitment to the aims and mission of Stepping Stone House. Founders Max and Joan Connery were alarmed at the number of homeless young people in Sydney during the 1980s. Inspired by a lay group in Rome, The Community of Saint Egidio, they believed Sydney’s local community could help, and in 1989 Stepping Stone House was launched. Partnering with another nonprofit Wesley Mission for the first six years helped the staff develop their skills and knowhow for the early years if this much-needed service. Congratulations to Emma, Christine and Margaret for their efforts toward helping Australia’s Homeless Youth, not to mention managing to stay out all night under the stars in their cardboard creation.
RECOGNISING OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY WEEK 2018 During October we celebrated Occupational Therapy Week throughout our homes. Hall & Prior’s Occupational Therapy (OT) staff are a key part of our clinical teams, and during the week they took the opportunity to share information about this crucial role. Occupational Therapists are Allied Health professionals who focus on enabling people to participate in the activities of everyday life. They help people maintain function through focusing on their strengths and abilities. The aim is for the person to have the best quality of life despite the limitations caused by ageing or by disease progression. This means finding ways for people to continue performing everyday tasks that many of us may take for granted, such as using cutlery and being able to move around safely. Their role focuses on environmental modifications to a home or living space to increase safety, as well as education. As an example of the type of support an OT can provide, if an individual is having trouble using ordinary cutlery to eat a meal on their own, an OT can provide modified, built-up cutlery which is easier to grip and manoeuvre, enabling the person to eat independently. Changes like these can make a huge difference in the overall health and wellbeing of any person, but are especially important for the care of older people.
LASA CONGRESS SHARES LESSONS LEARNT Aged care providers came together to share lessons learnt in the field at Leading Aged Services Australia (LASA’s) national conference in Adelaide on October 28 to 30. The congress was attended by Hall & Prior’s Manager of Advanced Clinical Practice Duska Bodegrajac and Corporate Services Manager Daniel Hitchcock. As an industry we are confident that we can improve the quality of care around Australia. The congress highlighted learnings for staff to be fully informed about developments of the Royal Commission. This information has been incorporated into Hall & Prior’s plans for engagement with the Royal Commission. Another large focus of the congress was around workforce challenges that the aged care industry will face in the coming years. The industry already employs over 350,000 permanent, part time and casual employees, and this number is expected to grow substantially in the future as the demand for aged services increases. The good news is Hall & Prior is already leading the way in many employee engagement strategies; including hiring caring and nursing staff on employee negotiated enterprise agreements and making a commitment to staff education, as detailed in the Education Compendiums published in WA and NSW annually.
ART CONNECTS AGE AND YOUTH Fairfield resident in Centenarian Portrait by Teenagers project Maria Sabag, resident at Fairfield Aged Care Home since December 2012, was recently featured in The Centenarian Portrait Project by Teenagers exhibition, entitled, 100; a celebration of Sydney’s oldest residents. The exhibition displayed 100 portraits of 100 year old residents from across Sydney, and were created by skilled young artists. Maria was painted by artist Vivian Nguyen with acrylic on canvas for display. Vivian wrote the following text about Maria on the thoughts and feelings that went into creating the artwork for the exhibition.
Warm-honey tones and fluffy hair are what springs to mind, when I think of Maria Sabag, a sweet lady, with a happy and loveable aura. Born on 2nd June 1917 in the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia (where she was a shop owner), Maria had 5 children. She moved to Australia in 1973 at the age of 56. Most of her time here was spent living at Bondi Beach and South Coogee. Maria also worked at the Hilton Hotel. Upon our first meeting, Maria was so friendly; she kept
talking to me in Spanish. I held her hand as I listened. Without a mutual language, I sat there, clueless, aware of her warm and smooth touch. Maria always looked to where I was, which made it hard to believe that her eyesight is limited. Maria is easy to be around, she wears a wide-lipped smile and her favourite colours are red and pink. The exhibition ran in The Studio, Rosebery from Saturday 29 September to Friday 12 October 2018 and saw the centenarians, all from Sydney, sit for local artists aged between 14 and 19. From storytelling, reminiscing, joy and laughter, came the unique portraits, a gift - and friendships to treasure between the generations. Every picture tells a story. Maria and her daughter Georgette Sabag, share a room at Fairfield Aged Care home and enjoyed their part in this wonderful exhibition. Maria and Georgette (along with some other residents of Fairfield) enjoyed their outing to view the exhibition at the very ‘centenarian friendly’ gallery space.
LEIGHTON THERAPY ASSISTANT BECOMES WINNING SONGBIRD When she’s not being an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Leighton’s Katelyn Newlands is writing songs that win awards. Katelyn recently won the Song Lyrics category of the Australian Songwriters Association’s awards in Sydney with co-writer, singer and music producer Kieran Roberts for her song Dream Rewards (The Farmer’s Life). The song focusses on life on the land and was inspired by the droughts that affected country New South Wales and Queensland in 2012. The talented OTA has been writing novels, poetry, and song lyrics since 2004. After entering many competitions, Katelyn was recognised in 2016 and 2017 by the Australian Songwriter’s Association with her song lyrics named in the top 30. Other song lyrics that she originally wrote in 2012 were shortlisted for 2018. Having Kieran’s
input ended up creating the winning song lyrics and his performance was also shortlisted in the country section. “I work part time as an OTA, but writing is an important part of my life and photography is my chill-out hobby,” Katelyn said. “My songs are the story of my life and my beliefs. Like my books and poetry they all have a message meant to create hope in others. “I feel very grateful, humbled and excited that my dreams are coming to fruition.” She and Kieran are currently working together on another song, and have more sing projects planned for the future. Dream Rewards (The Farmer’s Life) is available on Google Play, iTunes and Spotify. Katelyn is also creating a video for the song which reflects on farming life in Western Australia.
Menaville Aged Care Home resident Tony Giovenco with the artwork he created for the home’s Remembrance Day exhibition.
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