Bass Coast Shire Council’s homecare team are the winners of the 2001 Victorian Community Services and Health Industry Training Award. The award recognises the commitment that Bass Coast’s homecare team has shown to creating a learning culture among staff.
Bass Coast Mayor, Councillor Miranda Sage, said that the local homecare team won the award ahead of more than 50 entries from across Victoria’s community services industry.
“Council is very proud of our Homecare team for their dedication in providing high quality services for residents in the Shire,” she said. “This award reflects the team’s goal of continuously improving their services through training.”
Councillor Sage explained that Council’s homecare team includes 60 Homecarers who visit more than 1,300 elderly or disabled clients in their homes, providing a variety of services.
The team’s manager, Jeanette Draper, said that the homecare team has always believed in investing in staff through training and development.
“Our commitment to staff development through training has had benefits for both staff and clients, particularly Council’s ability to deliver high quality services,” she said. “Our homecarers well deserve to be recognised for their efforts in undertaking training in Certificate Three in Community Services, which is provided by Chisholm Institute of TAFE and Transformations.
“Many of the staff who underwent the training have been out of school for over 15 years and had to make many sacrifices to return to study. They have had to juggle family and work to achieve their goals.”
Regional Manager of Chisholm Institute’s Bass Coast Campus, Garry Nation, said that during Chisholm’s association with Bass Coast’s homecare team, they have demonstrated a philosophy and commitment to staff training and education seldom seen in employers.
Jeanette Draper said she believed the team’s conviction in their work has led to their success.
“One of the judges commented that it was our passion for training and our belief in our team that won us this award,” she said.
