Provider takes the time to celebrate all during Aged Care Employee Day

A new annual awareness day for the 7th of August has been created by one of the nation’s aged care providers as a way of acknowledging who they are calling some of the most “overlooked and unsung heroes” in our community.

The Whiddon Group created, and have launched, Aged Care Employee Day, which they say is a day for the whole aged care workforce, designed to celebrate each and every team member involved in the journey of caring for people who receive aged care services.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Whiddon Group Chris Mamarelis acknowledges the presence of initiatives like International Nurses Day, but highlights how they only touch on a “very small percentage of the incredible people involved in the industry.”

Mr Marmarelis adds that this day of acknowledgement will include everyone – from the nurses and care workers, to the cooks and hospitality teams, to the drivers, cleaners and laundry employees, to the volunteers, leisure and lifestyle offices, and right down to the administration teams.

“We have long felt that some of the most unsung heroes in our society are aged care employees – all of them,” he says.

“While Whiddon has always been committed to showing our team members how much we care, we felt that was simply not enough and that everyone in the industry deserves special recognition and a day to pay homage to the valuable work they do.

“We often leverage our strong community connections and engage families, friends and community groups to help care for older Australians, ensuring they achieve a healthy quality of life.

“But this often means people who work in aged care are putting others’ needs before their own, which is why we need to celebrate their hard work.

“Therefore we came up with the idea to officially create Aged Care Employee Day – a day to allow everyone to say a huge thank you to these selfless people and a day to celebrate the people behind our entire industry.”

Federal Minister for Aged Care Ken Wyatt has praised the initiative, and what it hopes to achieve.

“I congratulate The Whiddon Group and all their staff on this inaugural Aged Care Employee Day,” he says.

“A proud and professional workforce is the foundation for quality aged care, with staff dedicated to their residents and focused on making caring a career of choice.

“You deserve the highest community appreciation every day of the year, as you care for the older Australians who built the nation we cherish today.”

Peak body Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) CEO Sean Rooney also congratulated the provider on their new initiative.

“The aged care workforce is an essential workforce and must be a high priority for the nation,” he says.

“It is important to acknowledge how aged care workers make a positive difference in the lives of older Australians – 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year in year out.

“This is something our industry is immensely proud of and something our nation is very grateful for.”

This article was originally published on www.agedcareguide.com.au on 7/8/18.
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