“No matter how bad things have been, the sense of community, teamwork and camaraderie has kept us going”, CEO, Janna Voloshin

* 15 December 2020 *

As 2020 comes to a close, this year’s staff Saluting Excellence Awards were today presented via Zoom, celebrating the dedication and commitment of our staff to residents and clients – in the 2020 manner. 

Usually a full-day event where staff join with VIP guests and sponsors for a celebration of the work done throughout the year, this year’s online event aimed to recognise staff in this unique year, while following government guidelines and maintaining virus-prevention strategies.    

CEO, Janna Voloshin expressed her gratitude to all staff for the way they dealt with everything thrown at them in 2020: 

“As much as 2020 has been a difficult, tiring and stressful year”, she said, “it has also been a year when we have truly experienced the strength of our staff and the value of camaraderie.”

Chair of the Board of Directors, Mike O’Meara OAM, noted that the Board are incredibly proud of the work being done by staff at Vase RSL Care. He talked about war hero, Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop, who famously said, “I have a conviction that it’s only when you are put at full stretch that you can realise your full potential.”

Mike reflected on the way that staff have all been stretched this year, not just at work, but at home as well. He recalled meeting with a lady whose mother had moved into one of our aged care homes, and how she told him that her mother had thrived. The care and support given by staff to all our residents and clients is something to be very proud of – caring for veterans and war widows “is in our DNA”, he said.

Guest speaker, Dr Sally Cockburn – aka Dr Feelgood – inspired all present to remember to care for ourselves! Sally is well known for her health advocacy and her down-to-earth health advice, and she gave us lots of advice, good advice, funny advice and covid-19-appropriate advice!

Sally suggested that this year, none of us had had enough fun and that we need to make sure there is some sparkle in our day. She noted how we have all been chatting to our dogs, cats and inanimate objects more this year (and her presentation was accompanied by the regular snores of her dog). But one good thing about COVID is that it has allowed us to talk about how we are feeling. She left us with three things to remember – to look after ourselves first, to remember to love ourselves, and to make sure we laugh. 

Master of Ceremonies and General Manager of Aged Care Services, Lee-Anne Suryn, anchored the presentation from central office. “This time last year, none of us could have imagined the way 2020 would unfold,” she said . “We have asked a lot from our staff this year and they have given their very best.”

Lee noted that for the first time, this year’s Awards were aligned with Our Promises to our community, ensuring that the needs and wishes of residents and clients are the foundation of all we do.

We send our sincere congratulation to all our wonderful winners!

Click on the video to view the Awards Presentation.

 

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Nominees and Winners

Excellence in Traditional Values

Nominees

Aggie Sagin, Alanna Singleton, Ashish Sood, Chin Lin Foo Souye, Darren Dreier, Jason Starr-Nolan, Julie-Anne Swanson, Julie-Ann Carr, Kerrie Day, Maria Ferenc, Melody Nkomo, Siew Ping Su, Siobhan Johns.

Winners

Ashish Sood 

Darren Dreier

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Excellence in Dignity

Nominees

Alanna Singleton, Arun Nair, Ashish Sood, Evalyn Kaaya, Heidi Mills, Jane Faulkner, Rowan Quirke, Siew Ping Su.

Winners

Alanna Singleton

Arun Nair

Evalyn Kaaya

Jane Faulkner

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Excellence in Fulfillment

Nominees

Aggie Sagin, Bindu Chiramal Simon, Emily Cosh, Eve Kleiman, Jason Starr-Nolan, Kathleen Esdaile, Linda D’Sylva, Mandy Wakely, Nicole Groves, Noelene Curtain, Rose Capp, Selbin Chacko, Siobhan Johns, Susan Douglas, Vicki Jarrett.

Winners

Emily Cosh  

Siobhan Johns

Susan Douglas

Vicki Jarrett

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Excellence in Care

Nominees

Aleksandra Nowosiak, Alison Sciola, Alphi Francis, Amrita Amrita, Amy Massey, Ana Fonua, Anchal Sharma, Anish Jose, Antonio Garcia, Arun Nair, Arvinder Kaur, Asha Amajok, Ashish Sood, Bindu Chiramal Simon, Carolyn Boland, Catherine Benham, Celina Lawrenson, Chamini Dinethra Chandradasa, Charles Ramsay, Cheryle Haynes, Neville Lin, Chin Lin Foo Souye, Darelle Amott, Don Agra, Doung Veng, Elizabeth Pierzchala, Ella Bekmouratova, Ellen Marsh, Emil Vanderzee, Eva Guerrero, Eve Kleiman, Francisca Romauli, Glennys McKay, Hwi Ling LIm, Jennifer Agnew, Jennifer Hall, Jennifer Ashton, Jennifer Egan, Julie Driscoll, Julie-Anne Swanson, Julie Bell, Karen Christie, Karma Gurung, Kathleen Pepi, Kathy Zeljko, Kellie Lacy, Krystal Backx, Kylie Smith, Leanne Saville, Lei Xiao, Liam Healey, Lisa Nash, Lisa Raguz, Loris Hine, Louise Williamson, Lynne Griffiths, Madeline Bianco, Nerisa Tonkin, Melissa Mullen, Melody Nkomo, Michelle Andrewartha, Mishelle Ansems, Netsa Biolo, Nida Falleti, Nikol Izmailova, Nikunj Patel, Nisa Thamel, Noelene Curtain, Paul Weibye, Prabhjeet Kaur, Rachel Del Giudice, Rajinder Rani Kalia, Rajnita Pasara, Rose Mitchell, Rose Capp, Roshni Reddy, Samantha Robin, Sarah Kerr, Sashi Singh, Selbin Chacko, Shajan Kuriackose, Shaleshni Goundar, Sharon Wigney, Shiwalove Bhagat, Siew Ping Su, Siobhan Johns,Sofia Ali, Suzanne Smith, Sylvia Rogowska, Tajinder Johal, Tara Elso, Tatiana Lelekova, Teena John, Tomy Jose, Uyen Pham, Veer Kaur, Vicki Jarrett, Vinccie Chow, Wasina Sirithorn, Wendolyn Melo.

Winners

Chin Lin Foo Souye

Julie Bell

Leanne Saville

Louise Williamson

Madeline Bianco

Neville Lin

Siew Ping Su

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Excellence in Quality

Nominees

Aggie Sagin,  Angela Tsoukalas, Anna Borkowska, Arun Nair, Ash Kaur, Chacko Mathai, Neville Lin, Chris Gray,  Darren Dreier, Heidi Mills, Janet Bianco, Jeng Wong, Jillian Smith, Laura Dean, Linda D’Sylva, Nicole Groves, Pauline Ridsdale, Rayphe Collins, Rose Capp, Ruth Nduati, Ruwan Bogodaarachchige, Santosh Poudel, Simon James, Siobhan Johns.

Winners

Laura Dean

Nicole Groves

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Excellence in Camaraderie

Nominees

Aggie Sagin, Alanna Singleton, Alexandra Karagounis, Alphi Francis, Anna Borkowska, Annette Greenwood, Antonio Garcia, Arun Nair, Bindu Chiramal Simon, Bridget Warren, Chorten Gurung, Colleen O’Donnell, Don Agra, Emil Vanderzee, Evalyn Kaaya, Glennys McKay, Jasmine Seears, Jodi Evans, Julie-Anne Swanson, Krishna Kosambi, Leanne Saville, Lee-Anne Suryn, Lourdes Villamoor, Melody Nkomo, Michelle Gleeson, Mishelle Ansems, Mou Dell, Nadia Wilson, Nan Yang, Nicole Groves, Nikol Izmailova, Nikunj Patel, Pat Casey, Paul Weibye, Rachel Del Giudice, Rayphe Collins, Ruth Nduati, Ruwan Bogodaarachchige, Sanja Essa, Sarah Kerr, Selbin Chacko, Sheila Simons, Siew Ping Su, Siobhan Johns, Svetlana Polianskaia, Vicki Jarrett, Wayne Urand, Wilhelm Booyse.

Winners

Alphi Francis 

Nadia Wilson

Rayphe Collins

Sanja Essa

Wilhelm Booyse 

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