Nominations open for new aged care awards

Outstanding aged care workers from across Australia will be recognised with the inaugural Humanetix HEART Awards. The program will reward their efforts through grants to support career development or a charitable cause.

Backed by technology company Humanetix, the HEART Awards will recognise workers who represent the HEART (Helpful, Empathetic, Action-oriented, Resilient and Trustworthy) principles — celebrating those who are helpful and catalysts of change; who approach challenges in aged care in an empathetic way; those who strive to make a difference by being action-oriented; those who are resilient and driven to innovate; and are trustworthy, working with honesty and transparency.

“This is about putting our everyday aged care workers’ names up in lights,” Humanetix CEO Arthur Shih said. “We are celebrating the incredibly valuable work that our nurses, home care workers and personal care assistants do.

“The last few years have been challenging for aged care workers. They are a critical part of our healthcare system, and their work is immeasurably important in enabling happy and healthy aging for the senior members of our society.

“We’ve heard from aged care workers on the ground that the ability to fund specific professional development programs would be hugely beneficial. In a time of new reform and staff shortages, anything we can do to support and thank aged care employees is something we want to lead for all.”

Post-pandemic issues are pushing aged care workers to their limits, with 64,000 workers estimated to leave the industry by June 2023. The campaign allows for a ‘voice’ for aged care employees to be heard and acknowledged in a really simple way with excellent prizes and recognition that would be hugely beneficial to them.

Nominations for aged care workers are open — anyone may nominate a colleague, their employees, favourite care staff or themselves, and registration will only take less than a minute. A simple online application that details why a nominee is deserving and an explanation of what they would do with the grant if they were successful is required.

Three grants are available, which could be used for self or career advancement, not-for-profit donations or activities, or industry-development initiatives.

“Through Humanetix’s HEART Awards, we are really excited to be giving back — even just a little — to the aged care workers in our communities who do so much,” Shih said.

“We would love to hear as many stories as we can so if you have the experience to share about an amazing aged care worker, please consider putting their name forward.”

The Humanetix HEART Awards nominations will be open 27 February until 31 March 2023, with all entries to be screened by an industry panel and a first ($2500), second ($1500) and third ($500) prize to be awarded.

Applications can be made via humanetix.com.au/heartawards.

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