Top aged care award

Bushland Health Group in Taree has been named as one of two inaugural winners of the National Innovation and Excellence in Aged Care awards for its Nurse Practitioner Palliative Care Model. 

The two winners were recently announced by Minister for Aged Care, Ken Wyatt, at the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency’s Better Practice conference in Sydney. 

This new better practice award recognises providers nationally that demonstrate leading edge, innovative practises in aged care that represent excellence, and showcases industry leaders worthy of national and international recognition in aged care practice. 

This prestigious award continues the recognition that Bushland Health Group has received for the utilisation of a nurse practitioner in its three aged care homes at Karingal Gardens, Bushland Place and Banyula Lodge to improve the quality of care given to residents, and provide rapid access to primary health care that has led to a significant reduction in resident hospitalisations. 

Bushland Health Group was one of the first aged care providers in Australia to employ a full time nurse practitioner in 2009 and use their expertise for the benefit of residents, and is the only provider in the Manning Valley with its own dedicated practitioner. 

The Nurse Practitioner works in collaboration with Doctors and provides advanced clinical assessments and comprehensive interventions for residents.

“As a community organisation, we are delighted to receive national recognition for our Nurse Practitioner - Palliative Care Model,” Chairman, Graham Brown said, 

“We are always looking at ways to improve what we do and what we can offer our residents. This award, however, would not be possible without the dedication and hard work of our staff that deliver care and other services to our residents”. 

Quality Agency CEO, Nick Ryan said “the Better Practice awards highlighted the positive programs in action for older Australians and rewarded staff, management, clients, and organisations for their hard work. The stand out providers spend time finding out what their consumers want, and then find a way to make it happen.”

Services offered include physiotherapy, speech pathology, massage therapy, aromatherapy, dietitian, and a reflections room.