Maroba Annual Report 2020/2021
Our Annual Report for the Financial Year 2020/2021 has been released and contains lots of news and interesting facts for Maroba for the last financial year.
Message from the CEO – 2021 Annual Report
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” (Maryanne Radmacher)
It’s true, we’re really all in this together – the Global Pandemic that is. While we’ve seemed to have enjoyed some respite during this past year it wasn’t without the roller coaster of lock downs and changing and often very limited visiting arrangements. It is fair to say that our residents, our teams, our families and so many friends of Maroba have all had their resilience and patience tested as together we’ve negotiated the many variations of what being connected to loved ones, fellow residents and staff means in 2020/21. The potential for disconnection has been a very real challenge during this time and has required significant creativity and resourcing to overcome the potential for loneliness and despair amongst our residents.
Spiritual Care Team
To assist us to positively meet this challenge we have purposefully increased the hours of our Spiritual Care team, while concurrently conducting a revision of their service delivery. This strategy has provided extended and innovative opportunities to support and connect with many more of our residents as they reflect on the personal impacts of the Pandemic as well as offering our staff support if needed. In May 2021 Vicki Carpenter finished her time with us after three years of dedicated service as our Spiritual Care Co-ordinator. However, I’m delighted that Jo Paterson, who worked so successfully with Vicki to provide genuine compassionate and individualised support to our residents was, after a rigorous recruitment process, appointed as our new Spiritual Care Co-ordinator. This has been a seamless transition that has allowed the stability of continuity along with the confidence and freedom to implement new traditions to best support individual needs and organisational mission during a very demanding year.
Championing our Staff
This story of ‘baton change’ and willingness to adopt the very best care options could easily be repeated for every category of staff at Maroba. I have been so encouraged by the amazing capacity of our people to adapt to an ever-changing situation with no clear end in sight. So much more has been asked of individuals and teams and it is remarkable that more people have not sought to step away from aged care altogether. Our staff need to be applauded and celebrated!
Royal Commission
One cannot comment on the dedication of our staff without acknowledging that the long-awaited Royal Commission recommendations have been published in a 7 Volume report titled ‘Neglect’. Sadly, the Commonwealth Government’s response to this report has left many of us wondering what are the real priorities of this Nation and if in fact is has a genuine commitment to older Australians and their care? Although we learnt of a $17.7 billion allocation to the Aged Care budget, not 1 cent goes to the bedside of residents until October 2022 at the very earliest. Yet more layers of compliance and regulation have been added which inevitably detracts from hands on care at the bedside. The Aged Care system is in crisis and over 60% of providers are operating in deficit. It comes as no surprise then, that an increasing number of services are closing especially in rural and regional areas.
Financial Challenges
Even though our operating costs are escalating each month, exacerbated by the demands of the Pandemic’ we are receiving no additional financial support or even acknowledgement of the extra mile gone by all of our teams from the funding body. Despite this neglect, the Executive Team and our Partners with Purpose remain focussed on maximising quality and meaningful experiences for all our residents, while at the same time seeking out every opportunity for efficiency gains. Although this has been challenging, it is also rewarding when you see firsthand the positive difference we can make to each resident and their loved ones.
Vaccinations
In February 2021 the Prime Minster announced that vaccines would be offered to every Aged Care worker before Easter as they had been categorised as 1a priority to help ensure the safety of Older People in care. Sadly, by mid- April the sector discovered, by accident, that the plan to protect older people was a myth, and that every worker had to find their own vaccine wherever they could. This has been nothing short of a debacle. The Prime Minister had reneged on his commitment to vaccinate aged care workers, yet proceeded to announce in June 2021, that it would now be mandatory for all aged care workers, volunteers and contractors to be vaccinated by 17th September 2021. Access to supplies and vaccination hubs has not been robust, further placing the sector at risk of failure. Fortunately, I was able to work closely with the Hunter New England Local Health District over several months to secure the Pfizer Vaccine for many of our staff as appointments became available.
Celebrations, Fun, Traditions
In spite of the many challenges thrown our way, we have continued to ensure that the sharing of celebrations such as big milestone birthdays, anniversaries, staff farewells and baby showers remain a priority. Everybody here enjoys a reason to connect, to have fun and most importantly to share the love at Maroba. We also celebrate and honour the lives of those who have passed away in our care with staff and residents joining together as a mark of respect to form a Guard of Honour as someone precious to us leaves the building through the same door in which they entered. This is now a proud Maroba tradition along with the Memorial Services. These services are conducted several times a year for families who are invited to come together at Maroba, along with staff and residents to celebrate their loved one’s life and the contributions and memories they gave to the Maroba family.
Community Engagement
Maroba continues to advocate fearlessly for older people in care and is regularly invited by local and national media outlets to provide informed opinion based on our experience as an Aged Care provider. We do not take these opportunities lightly because we live in a society that is often ignorant of the realities of residential care and therefore too easily diminishes the value of humanity in all its frailties. We have a dual role, to shine a light on injustice and to be transparent when we fail in our duty.
A Winner
On a positive note, Maroba was named Australian Aged Care Company of the Year in the Gamechangers 2021 Global Awards. I was also privileged to be the recipient of the Australian Gamechanger of the Year in the same awards this year. It is always an honour when Maroba and our people are recognised globally and nationally.
Personal Thanks
My twenty-seven years at Maroba have been a thrilling ride! I continue to give thanks to the Lord for the many, many opportunities that we have been presented with and for the loyal, talented and committed people that surround me. My Executive team Tracy Walker and Louise Adnum, who serve with distinction, never cease to amaze me with their energy, vison, and action on behalf of all those we serve, while Sarah Gamble, my Executive Assistant, astounds me with her creativity and unfailing support of our mission. A special mention must also be made of our Partners with Purpose team who are our operational leaders, working continuously to develop plans to ensure that we are able to offer our very best to all in our care and the teams they lead. I continue to be both grateful and proud to serve the entire Maroba community!
Despite the many challenges that we face in these uncertain times I remain encouraged and inspired by these few words from Galatians 6:9
‘And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.’
Viv Allanson
Maroba, CEO
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