Maroba Annual Report 2022/2023
Our Annual Report for the Financial Year 2022/2023 has been released and contains lots of news and interesting facts for Maroba for the financial year.
Message from the CEO – 2023 Annual Report
“Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age and Dreams are forever” Walt Disney
I really connected with this quote as it has It has been that kind of year where Laughter has been a necessary ingredient to keep us grounded when some of the challenges could have put us off course. We have exercised every creative muscle and imaginative thought amongst us to deliver what our residents need and aspire to, within very tight fiscal constraints. Yet we must keep dreaming to ensure Maroba has a robust and relevant future.
The Covid Pandemic did not leave town even though we had many more pressing reform matters to understand and implement throughout the 22/23 year. You may not be aware that Aged Care is in the midst of the greatest reforms in the entire life cycle of our sector. The Star rating system was introduced to help consumer be better informed about a service they are considering. We have faced enormous workforce challenges that are unprecedented, and that scenario is not letting up. It is not only a local or state problem but a National and International crisis. This was triggered by the Pandemic and now many other factors have come into play. The result for Maroba is that we are constantly introducing new team members with little or no experience in aged care. Thus, we have strengthened all our on-boarding and training systems and added designated support roles to ensure our teams are capable and confident to fulfill their roles.
The great news is the new Government committed to reviewing all Aged Care funding arrangements including the Fair Work Commission findings which has ensured our care staff are rewarded more appropriately for the work that they do. Funding overall has increased, however so have the staffing requirements and compliance arrangements adding an additional administrative workload.
Innovation and utilisation of Artificial Intelligence are now the expected norm for Aged Care services. We have, over many years attracted researchers and entrepreneurs who want to test their inventions and programs at Maroba in conjunction with the University of Newcastle. We have and continue to trial many exciting options with some being adopted into daily programs and others not making the grade without further refinements. It has positioned us on the front foot as we continue to explore this brave new world of health technology. One of Maroba’s strengths is our Teaching model of service, always accommodating the next generation of Health Care professionals from a range of disciplines and education levels.
Our staff continue to shine culminating in our annual recognition event sponsored by many of our loyal suppliers and partners. Even our staff contribute to the all-important scholarship fund that enables us to support individuals in their growth and educational pursuits. Even though staff turnover has become more challenging, all that are present continue to make a difference in the lives of our resident’s day by day, and I applaud them for their efforts and their resilience to push through the difficult aspects of their roles.
Finally, I want to acknowledge the work of my Executive team, as they truly hold fast to all that Maroba stands for and for standing with me and the Board in ensuring that our values are evident in all that we do. Together we “Love out Loud” and remind ourselves of that foundation scripture “Love thy neighbour as they self” ( Mark 12: 30-31)
Viv Allanson
Maroba, CEO
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