General News
1 February, 2024
Big things planned for Havilah
Following Havilah’s recent success, CEO Tracey Saunders and director of care Stacey Perry are looking to pick up where they left off in the new year. The aged care facility has recently been nominated for Asuria’s inaugural employer awards for...
Following Havilah’s recent success, CEO Tracey Saunders and director of care Stacey Perry are looking to pick up where they left off in the new year.
The aged care facility has recently been nominated for Asuria’s inaugural employer awards for its continued commitment towards recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce.
To continue their support in recruitment, Havilah currently employs 20 trainees, who receive individualised training over a 12 month period to learn the ropes of aged care.
Ms Perry said staff is key in providing quality aged care.
“Our ratio between staff and residents is really strong at the moment, it allows for a more personal relationship between staff and residents which allows us to give better care,” she said.
“We have taken on 10 new trainees who are very well supported through their training and work a lot of buddy shifts until they are ready to work independently.
“We will look at an intake every six months for new trainees, which will be in late July or early August.”
While looking at the year ahead, Ms Perry is motivated to continue Havilah’s recent progress.
“Over the next 12 months, I think the facility is just going to get better and better — if you want to get involved with Havilah, now is the time to do it,” she said.
“We want to move forward with increasing that independence for our residents and look at how we can continue to involve our residents in the community.
“Our doors are open for community groups who want to spend a day doing a sewing class or a crafts session and spend time with the residents.”
Ms Saunders aims to create a strong engagement for her residents in their care and their participation in the community.
“The increase in being able to encourage resident independence has been great — this is their home and we work in their home so they should be able to decide what their care looks like,” she said.
“For us being local, we grew up knowing what Havilah is, so we are keen to get Havilah back into the community and being involved.”
Following on from their $8 million building of the Terrace, Havilah has also planned a similar $11 million expansion on Burns Street, which will neighbour their Harkness Street site.
The project aims to add another 24 aged care beds to their existing 166 beds across their three facilities.
After some delays, Ms Saunders hopes to have the new centre be a part of Havilah’s development plans in the near future.
“The project is currently on hold, we hope that somewhere in 2024 we will start that construction,” she said.
“We are also looking at building a sensory garden and a quiet reflection area for families and residents toenjoy.”