A Cairns-based community services provider for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders  was tonight awarded the Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) organisation prize for excellence in aged care at a ceremony in Hobart.

D&R Community Services provides home and community care packages and residential care services for older people across rural and remote areas of northern Queensland and the Northern Territory.

The ACSA national awards, sponsored by HESTA Super Fund, recognise the exceptional contribution individuals make to providing quality residential and community care for older Australians.

Alzheimer’s Australia NSW ambassador Ita Buttrose AO OBE was the MC for the awards presentations.

D&R Community Services was established in 2005 with two staff.   It now employs 100 staff committed to a flexible, individual and holistic approach to supporting clients.

A high proportion of indigenous local staff assists in providing services which respect the beliefs and local customs of clients and understands their culturally specific needs.

The award judges commented that D&R Community Services provided quality care and exceptional service in an environment that embraces the geographic and cultural challenges with dedication, innovation and sensitivity.

A Queensland finalist for the employee award was also highly commended by the judges. Alice Satterthwaite, a registered nurse with the Churches of Christ Care, Mitchelton, was commended for her dedication and willingness to work across four very remote aged care facilities often with long absences from her own family, to provide the very best care.

Congratulating D&R Community Services, ACSA CEO Greg Mundy said the awards afforded an important opportunity to pay tribute to those involved in the aged care industry - people and organisations who constantly strive to deliver quality care and support to more than a million older Australians every day.

The winners of the national awards were selected from winners of the ACSA federation’s state awards. The awards were announced on the eve of ACSA’s three day national conference being held in Hobart.

ACSA is the national peak body representing not-for-profit and faith-based residential and community aged care providers.  A full list of winners and conference program is available at www.agedcare.org.au Media contact: Chris Hornsey 0419 513 432     This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it