April has been an eventful month with an outpouring of nominations for April Feathers. We are excited to highlight these outstanding teams and individuals who have gone above and beyond in their roles.
 
Join us in celebrating our overall Feathers Winners for April; some of the incredible ladies from the SwanCare At Home Team; Amanda Heaney – Admin Support, Moira Heddle – Resident Support Officer, Sajina Rai – Community Assistant, Mary Sackey – Case Manager and Stacey Cain – Community Assistant.
 
We received a heartwarming letter praising these individuals and sharing how significantly they contributed to creating such a positive experience for this resident:
 
“Dianne and I have been so happy with the Community Assistants who have come to clean our home. They have all been personable, happy, and hardworking. One example is when the staff approached me and asked, “Do you mind if I take this call? It is Mechy from the office.” People from other providers take phone calls at any time, quite often stopping what they are doing to take what would seem to be personal calls, so this was very refreshing for us. The SwanCare Community Assistants have all impressed us with the way they get into the job, and if they have a few minutes left, they ask if there is anything else they can do.
 
Older people often find that their hearing cannot keep up with the speech of younger people, particularly when heavily accented. This is not the case with the SwanCare team. They understand this and adjust to our needs. There are circumstances when Community Assistants may not be available, generally not of their own doing. When this happens, all efforts are made by SwanCare at Home to accommodate and find the best outcome for both parties. 
 
Many thanks to you all!”
 
SwanCare At Home Manager, Mechy states “Thank you, team, for making a difference to the older people we support. This is only one of the many examples showing your commitment to supporting SwanCare's clients and the respect you pay everyone. 
 
It reflects the concept of the intent of Standard 1, where we are expected to treat older people with dignity and respect, acknowledge their individuality and diversity, support independence, choice, and control to foster a sense of safety, autonomy, inclusion, and quality of life.”
 
Amazing job, Team! Your dedication and tireless efforts have been recognised, and we are fortunate to have such a remarkable team at SwanCare. Congratulations, Ladies! Very well deserved.
 
We have plenty more to celebrate! Please join us in also congratulating our category winners for April as follows:

Category Winners

COMPASSION - Leidy Ortiz, Social Engagement Assistant, SwanCare Kingia

“Leidy is one of the most engaging and interactive activities staff that all the residents love. As a nurse on the floor, I talk to the residents a lot. They have mentioned numerous times how amazing her activity plans are. They can see she spends lots of effort and time in planning these social activities, and it is certainly not time wasted. 
 
Today, despite not being in her role, she assisted with showering one of our residents. It was quite a busy day today on the floor, and this sometimes happens, and we run behind schedule. Leidy noticed one resident hadn't been showered yet and was waiting for their shower. Without hesitation, Leidy stepped up and assisted this resident. This helps us immensely, as sometimes routines are hard to maintain; however, they are important and play a key part in assisting residents’ well-being. 
 
The carers and residents on the floor love having you be a part of our everyday workday, and we can't state how appreciative we are. Thank you, Leidy!”
 
Thank you, Leidy! You are undoubtedly a cherished and appreciated member of the SwanCare family. Thank you for all that you do.

CUSTOMER SERVICE – Matt Upston, Community Living Coordinator

“I dropped by to help set up Matt's phone, but he was already assisting a resident with a mobile phone issue. Instead of escalating it to our team, Matt took the time to walk the resident through the problem himself. His patience, technical know-how, and commitment to helping others really stood out. It was great to see his focus on making sure the resident felt supported and confident. Thank you, Matt, for going the extra mile. Your dedication to excellent customer service is truly appreciated!”
 
Good job, Matt! Your commitment to outstanding customer service is genuinely appreciated, not just by residents but also by your colleagues.

IMPROVEMENTS, INNOVATION & CREATIVITY – Jessie Lim, Hospitality Team Leader

“While one of our hospitality admin assistants was on leave, Jessie demonstrated incredible teamwork by handling tasks for two facilities in a single day. I'd like to thank Jessie for her dedication and commitment in assisting with the paperwork for both facilities. During her coverage, she also introduced a few improvements to meal service. Her team leadership skills made the service more practical for the team, effectively utilising her expertise as an HAA. Additionally, she coordinated with the team leaders and highlighted a few areas for improvement. Thank you, Jessie, for your hard work and initiative!”
 
Thank you, Jessie. We're really impressed by your amazing leadership qualities and the dedication you show in your work!

LEADERSHIP – Thinley Dema, Assistant in Nursing, SwanCare Ningana 

 “I am pleased to give this feather to Thinley, who has demonstrated exceptional leadership on Level 2 (dementia floor) when the floor had two new AINs. She has a deep understanding of dementia, its challenges, and approaches to be used. She has excelled in providing compassionate and effective support to our residents and has also played a crucial role in mentoring new carers. I have seen her constantly demonstrate compassion, integrity, and patience with residents and new carers. While doing my medication rounds, I could see with her guidance that the new carers felt confident in their approaches to assist residents with meals. Thank you for setting a good example and upholding SwanCare values, Thinley. Your hard work does not go unnoticed.”
 
Thinley, your knowledge, expertise, and patience are greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to guide the new staff and showing them the ropes! You truly are an exemplary AIN, and your support makes a big difference.

LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT – Farhath Jameel, Clinical Nurse Educator

“Taking on the role of Clinical Nurse Educator is not an easy feat, and I am amazed at the amount of dedication effort and hard work that Farhath puts into her role. Farhath is often seen coming in early, staying back late, and even coming in on her days off, and she's always giving her 120% in whatever she does. Despite having to deal with everything by herself in her role single-handedly, Farhath never fails to stop and lend a helping hand to us nurses whenever we need clinical advice or guidance, be it big or small, and she is always so approachable. Thank you, Farhath, for always being willing to share your knowledge and wisdom with the nurses. Your presence is truly an asset to us! Thank you!”
 
You are extraordinary, Farhath. We appreciate your dedication and effort in your role and in supporting your colleagues. You are a gem, thank you!

TEAMWORK – Diwakar Pudasaini, Assistant in Nursing, SwanCare Ningana

“I just want to take a moment to acknowledge my teammate for the way he managed the floor independently during a short-staffed shift. By the time I arrived to assist, he had everything under control and remained calm and composed throughout the situation. It's not easy to handle that kind of pressure alone, and his professionalism and steady approach were truly admirable. He consistently shows how reliable, helpful, and team-oriented he is during every shift. It's always a pleasure working alongside him.”
 
Amazing work, Diwakar. We appreciate you as a crucial team member and thank you for coming to the rescue!
 
Congratulations once more to our April winners! We extend special recognition to the SwanCare At Home Team, the overall Feathers Winners for this month. Let’s keep celebrating these remarkable individuals and the incredible difference they make each day!
 

About Feathers

The Feathers program allows us to celebrate staff members who consistently go above and beyond in their roles. As a reward for their efforts, winners receive Feathers points that can be accumulated to redeem items from our online prize catalogue.
 
Do you know someone who deserves to be nominated for next month’s Feathers awards?
 
Nominations are simple to submit! Visit any of our reception areas, and staff will assist you with filling out a short form. Residents, family members, and staff are all eligible to nominate, so please share your stories of those who make a difference in our community!