Aged-care guru switches groups
Wendy Walters will join Wimmera Health Care Group as residential services director after spending nine years working in aged care at Rural Northwest Health.
Ms Walters has been working as Warracknabeal campus aged-care manager, where she has piloted and guided the development of an award-winning aged-care model.
She follows former Rural Northwest Health chief executive Catherine Morley to Wimmera Health Care Group.
Ms Morley, now Wimmera Health Care Group chief executive, said she was pleased Ms Walters was joining the organisation.
“We look forward to focussing on how we can support the region to be nationally recognised through partnerships with the Wimmera Southern Mallee Health Alliance,” she said
Rural Northwest Health chief executive Kevin Mills said Ms Walters had propelled aged care at Warracknabeal and Hopetoun to a world-standard level.
“Wendy has been an amazing asset to RNH,” Mr Mills said. “Her dedication to developing a model of care that is recognised and feted worldwide is proof of her passion for our residents and those living with dementia.
“It’s because of Wendy and her dedicated aged-care team that we have world-leading aged care here on the edge of the Mallee.
“I look forward to continuing a working association with Wendy through various Wimmera Southern Mallee Health Alliance projects.”
Ms Walters said she and Ms Morley developed an ABLE model of care with support of RNH aged-care team members.
“There was input from various carers and managers as we developed the model,” she said.
“I am very proud of the recognition the ABLE model has received from our peers, both nationally and internationally.
“It was an honour for me to be part of a team that also achieved several state and national aged-care awards, so I will always be very proud of my time at RNH.”
Ms Walters continues to find ways to improve on the care provided, regularly attending conferences throughout Australia and overseas. “I feel I’ve achieved as much as I can for RNH now and it’s time for fresh eyes to take over,” she said.