Excellence in aged care hospitality on show at annual awards

An aged care worker who has become known for her innovative approach to making mealtimes fun and interesting for residents is among those recognised in the sector’s annual hospitality awards.

From left: RSL Care general manager residential aged care Vicki Eckart with OSCAR winner Sharon O'Connor, RSL Care general manager community services Deidre McGill and finalists Robyn Taylor and Angela Thomas.
From left: RSL Care general manager residential aged care Vicki Eckart with OSCAR winner Sharon O’Connor, RSL Care general manager community services Deidre McGill and finalists Robyn Taylor and Angela Thomas.

An aged care worker who has become known for her innovative approach to making mealtimes fun and interesting for residents is among those recognised in the sector’s annual hospitality awards.

RSL Care Fairview employee Sharon O’Connor was named 2016 Food Services Assistant of the Year at the Aged Care Hospitality Awards (ACHA) on Friday night.

Ms O’Connor has worked at RSL Fairview for 16 years as a personal care worker, in the laundry and now in food services, where she is frequently seconded to other sites to train new employees.

The provider said Ms O’Connor is known for her innovative approach to making mealtimes fun and interesting for all residents, which has seen the facility become a popular choice with families to hold their special occasions.

OSCAR Hospitality director Diane Buettel said the number of nominations had grown in this year’s awards.

“The length that so many extraordinary candidates go to as part of their normal day is truly outstanding,” she said.

The ACHA recognises and rewards outstanding staff members, initiatives and facilities in the betterment of aged care catering, cleaning and laundry services, she said.

“We are extremely proud to give these outstanding professionals the acknowledgement they deserve. All these finalists have shown dedication and commitment to further raising the bar in improving the quality of resident care,” said Ms Buettel.

The full winners list:

Facility Catering Service of the Year:

  • The Whiddon Group Easton Kelso NSW

Catering Innovation of the Year (joint winners):

  • BlueCross Community and Residential Services VIC
  • Estia Health Fig Tree

Chef Manager of the Year:

  • Nick Pantelopolous – BlueCross VIC
  • Vaughan Rollings – Estia Health VIC

 Chef/Cook of the Year:

  • Glenda Butcher  – Baptistcare NSW

Food Service Assistant of the Year:

  • Sharon O’Connor – RSL Care Fairview QLD

Facility Cleaner of the Year:

  • Annette Thomas – Medirest Eldercare Cottage Grove SA

Laundry Services Individual of the Year:

  • Sandra Meulenbrock – Lifeview Residential Care VIC

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Tags: baptistcare, bluecross, estia-health, Lifeview, Medirest Eldercare, oscar-hospitality, rsl-care, the-whiddon-group,

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