Yackandandah Health CEO, Annette Nuck was recently named one of six finalists in the Individual of Distinction category in the HESTA Aged Care Awards.
The Yackandandah Health Committee of Management nominated Ms Nuck for her leadership in development of an intergenerational aged care model in a small country town.
Committee of Management President, Donald Crosthwaite said the nomination was made because Ms Nuck has shown strong leadership and has pursued innovations to change the direction from the traditional model of aged care.
“We are really well on the path to offering citizens of Yackandandah and district something extra and that’s down to Annette’s leadership,” Mr Crosthwaite said.
Ms Nuck and members of the Committee attended the award ceremony in Canberra on Thursday
Ms Nuck said the night showcased what others are doing around the country to advance aged care.
“Being selected as a finalist is really acknowledgment for our community, which has worked hard not just to retain health services in our town – but to expand the services with the determination that good enough is not good enough – that a small community can show the way by creating services that are best practice,” Ms Nuck said.
“It’s been very rewarding over the last couple of years to watch the residential aged care service becoming part of our town again; with residents actively participating in the community and our site starting to become the community hub that we have envisaged.
The vision for the Yackandandah model is that the community hub becomes a vibrant part of the community. Plans include a café, exercise pool, gym and meeting spaces for community events, groups and other services such as a childcare centre.