Monte says ‘thank you” and receives an award
Sydney’s Sir Moses Montefiore Home has hosted its volunteers on a harbour cruise to thank them for their work in 2011.Despite heavy rain, the Monte Volunteers partied on, eating, drinking, socialising and joining a troupe of drummers in delivering the pulsating rhythms of Africa….reports Marcelle Grolman.
‘Captain’ CEO Robert Orie welcomed everyone aboard with Montefiore President David Freeman AM paying tribute to the Volunteers and the huge contribution each and every Volunteer makes to the quality of life of the Residents. He also praised the efforts of the Volunteers Department that manages the program. He spoke of the big issues involved in aged care; the challenges facing us; and how we need to work together to find effective solutions.
One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the prestigious Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency (ACSAA) Better Practice in Aged Care Award for better practice in any program that benefits the lives of Residents.
In a big win for everyone involved in the Volunteers program, Montefiore was named winner of Better Practice in Aged Care Award by the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency (ACSAA). The Award was presented recently on the twilight harbour cruise.
The Awards are presented for better practice in any program run by a residential aged care home that benefits the lives of the residents. The Montefiore Volunteers Program operates with 535 active volunteers who help support 170 resident related activities. In 2010 Volunteers contributed over 33,000 hours of service.
Montefiore President David Freeman AM paid tribute to our Volunteers and the huge contribution each and every volunteer makes to the quality of life of our residents, as well as the Volunteers Department – Hazel Stein and Jane Silverman – who manage the program.
The award was presented to Foundation Director Roni Faktor by Dr June Heinrich, AM, Director on the Board of the Aged Care Standards & Accreditation Agency.
who, together with Ms Ann Wunsh, Acting General Manager Education, evaluated the program.
Dr Heinrich stressed Montefiore’s achievement in being chosen “the best of the best’, from over 90 applications across over 2,800 Homes in Australia. She said that Montefiore was judged as “Leaders in the industry, with [the volunteers program] going beyond routine and doing something different…in recruiting, training and retaining volunteers, you are an example to other homes.”
While Montefiore is immensely proud of this achievement we are keenly aware that we could not have achieved these standards were it not for the talent and unswerving commitment our 530 Volunteers give to our Residents.
With a Volunteer force that stands at more than 530, Montefiore is indeed an industry leader, particularly commended for its innovative approach. What’s more the Volunteers enthusiastically endorse the theme of this year’s function – ‘Volunteering is Fun’.