From the Chief Executive Officer

There is nothing like a pandemic to focus the mind. No sooner had we held our wonderful thank you events for our volunteers than we found ourselves plunged back into lockdown to stem the wave of COVID-19 in the community.

Over the past few months, we have been continually updating and improving our COVID-safe plans and procedures. This has included putting in place QR codes, revisiting training in infection control and PPE at Liscombe House, and much more. We were and continue to be as prepared as we can be.

That said, the lockdown has not stopped us in our tracks as we continue to plan and put in place new programs for the remainder of 2021.

Some of our achievements include:

• Completing and starting restoration work on cottages in Rushall Park, updating units in Currie Park and Leith Park, and rolling out a falls’ reduction maintenance program in Braeside Park
• Continuing to welcome new residents into the Leith Park apartments and into all of our villages
• Finding new ways to increase the local community’s knowledge of Currie Park where we have welcomed Strathbogie councillors and initiated conversations with the Federal local member Helen Haines and the State local member Steph Ryan
• Receiving a grant for the Men’s Shed members at Leith Park to receive first aid and well-being training from the Australian Men’s Shed Association.

As you will read in this newsletter, we have also been busy with advocacy whether it has been on vaccinations for our aged care staff and residents, housing, and the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

On the governance front, we have recently welcomed three new councillors to OCAV’s Council. They are:

Dr Mary Britton - a consultant Physician and Geriatrician who has extensive experience in providing services for older people in acute and community settings and has a special interest in cognitive impairment and delirium.

Dr Philomena Horsley - a medical anthropologist with particular interests in research ethics; ageing and aged care and disability care systems; gender and health; and family violence. She also holds positions at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the University of Melbourne’s School of Population Health.

Peter Slifirski - a registered architect with 30 years in the architecture, property and construction industry and 25 years in senior leadership roles including strategy and business development and providing professional services on major transport, commercial, urban design and education projects.

We look forward to working with them, and to sharing their stories in future issues,

There are many wonderful stories in this newsletter about our remarkable residents and staff. I do hope you enjoy them as much as I do. We are using Facebook to provide everyone with tips, factual information, and stories about our residents and the many different ways they are keeping active and well. Please do like and follow us.

Warm regards

Phillip Wohlers