Jenny comes back to OCAV for new challenges

Jenny Roche had lots of compelling reasons for rejoining the OCAV Council last year for a second stint. She is local, wanted to contribute to her community and through her work, knows about governance and how to respond to the needs of consumers. Most of all Jenny is passionate about the provision of quality aged care services and affordable housing for older Australians.

She served on the Council for six years until 2012 before taking a break. Last year she joined two other women on the nine member Council and discovered that there was a great deal of development on the drawing board and that importantly, OCAV was making a major contribution to state and national policy debates around ageing.

“This is a challenging time for the aged care sector, but also a time of change, not just in how aged care if provided but the expectation of residents and families,” Jenny said.

“What residents, and often families and carers, are looking for is getting more complex. That means that as an organisation we have to be more nimble so we can respond.”

According to her company’s website, Jenny, the Oceania Customer Advisory Services Leader with global organisation Ernst Young, believes “that relentless focus on customers is at the heart of high-performing organisations.” She feels the same way about her role on the OCAV Council.

“Providing dignified housing opportunities for ageing Victorians is important to me. I think as a community we need to respect the contribution older people have made to society on their journey to us,” Jenny said.

While she could use her ‘spare’ time in myriad ways, Jenny chose to return to the Council because of the role OCAV plays in the four communities where it is established and beyond. She is drawn to the organisation’s commitment to provide accommodation to people from all walks of life, with varying resources, including those who might be homeless without OCAV housing.

“OCAV has developed a nice balance between profit needed to improve facilities and provide more housing and having money to spend on the care of residents. OCAV, like all aged care services walks a tightrope in this area,” Jenny said.

Jenny’s career in marketing and customer experiences, allows her to see OCAV through the prism of the resident. She brings the end users voice to any discussions about services, potential developments and technology.

A lot has changed since Jenny first served on the Council, but happily the care of residents remains at the core of OCAV’s plans, policies and projects.

“One of the changes I see is that OCAV is now engaging in policy debate around housing for older Victorians. As we celebrate International Women’s Day it strikes me that while we have achieved so much as a community, we still have so far to go. The fact that so many older women, despite years of contribution to family and community, find themselves in housing peril in Australia saddens me. I am proud of OCAV’s achievements and what knowledge and experience it can bring to these conversations, ” she said.