Feros Care also received Organisation of the Year from the Not-For-Profit Network, as well as the Project of the Year for its Northern Rivers Primary Palliative Care Project.

The winner(s) will be announced on Friday, 14 November.

This award showcases the simple but smart use of technology at the Community Gateway which is a single point of entry connecting staff, services and care from Caboolture through to Coffs Harbour.

“The awards that Feros have won this year confirms that we are definitely travelling down the right path”, said Feros’ General Manager for Community Services, Gabriele Taylor.

Use the following links to check them out.

• Frequently Asked Questions for Residential Care Positions
• Frequently Asked Questions for Community Care Positions

As part of our Home Host initiative we recently launched a TV campaign. You can view the ad below or access it directly on YouTube — Home Host TV Commercial

This second award again recognises the efforts of many staff in developing the Community Contact Centre, the use of remote offices, the software packages, the phone networks, electronic documents, the internet and telecommunications technology.  This combination of technologies has allowed for one central communication point for community care for staff, clients, service providers and families. 

Congratulations to the Community Team.

Feros Village Bangalow has been beautifully extended and refurbished allowing us to further promote meaningful relationships that can flourish between residents, carers, families and friends.  Resident rooms now join to form cottages that flow into larger community hubs within the village – including the open plan servery and social area, activity rooms, gym and beauty salon and lush gardens.

Our philosophy of care seeks to combat the three plagues of ageing - loneliness, helplessness and boredom.   We do this by providing residents with a choice of stimulating venues and activity options for interaction with village neighbours.  Your loved-one can choose between craft in the activities room, baking in the servery, a manicure in the beauty salon or reminiscing and music in the open plan area, just a few of the opportunities from our varied calendar of events and activities. Children and animals play in important role in the everyday lives and activities within the village.

Our staff and volunteers promote a ‘can do’ culture and attitude that focuses on the abilities of residents rather that disabilities.  Care plans are holistic and, in addition to addressing medical and nursing issues, consider each resident’s lifestyle aspirations ‘choices and decisions.   Feros Care believes that meaningful care nurtures the human spirit as well as the human body and that everyone one, regardless of age and needs, has capacity to grow.

Mutual caring relationships between carers and residents are the central to the success of Feros Village Bangalow.  Staff and volunteers join a village communitiy according to mutual interests and life experiences.  The sense of place is strong.  Our home-makers work along side experienced nurses and personal care staff to add the warm touches to the communities and Feros Village Bangalow as a whole, that make it a home rather than a facility.

Feros Village Bangalow now offers 64 residential places including an exclusive 16 room Cottage where residents and their loved-ones can elect to live and be cared for in an environment of superior comfort and extra choice not available to traditional village residents.

‘We wanted to create a Nursing Home with a difference and we have’, said Mrs Jennene Buckley, Chief Executive Officer of Feros Care. ‘When you come through our doors there is an immediate feel of resort retreat, confidence in care and room for living, privacy and intimacy.’

‘The redevelopment has taken four years to become a reality but we are very excited by the final product and know that the community will be too’, said Mrs Buckley.

Paul Trotter of Fulton Trotter Architects is delighted with the redevelopment that promises to improve the quality care provided by Feros Care. ‘It has been amazing to see the transformation and we are particularly happy with the new main entry design’, he said. ‘The working relationship with local builder Bennetts Constructions has been excellent and they have delivered a wonderful outcome to the community’.

The new facility boosts an additional 19 beds, enhanced living and support services including modernised kitchens, laundries, community gathering and outdoor living areas. The efficient layout of the redesign is very popular with staff. Visitors will be impressed with the new car parking, drop-off and service areas attached to the new entry point off the Old Pacific Highway.

Visitors and residents will notice a big change at the village and Mrs Jennene Buckley is encouraging community, family and friends to come and have a look and see the future of aged care for themselves

Congratulations to Jana Hall and her team who won the 2008 Technology Innovation Award at the Aged & Community Services Association of NSW’s Annual Excellence Awards.  The award recognises the efforts of many staff in developing the Community Contact Centre, the use of remote offices, the software packages, the phone networks, electronic documents, the internet and telecommunications technology.  This combination of technologies has allowed for one central communication point for community care for staff, clients, service providers and families.  A big thank you also to all our community care staff who have been very patient with the development of the Gateway.  We have certainly had our ups and downs and there is still much more we hope to improve on.