Year: 2025

Dear Families and Employees

As many of you are aware, the Government has issued alerts regarding Tropical Cyclone Alfred  for Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales residents.

This weather event could bring damaging  winds,  heavy rainfall and possibly flash flooding, in areas of NSW and Queensland coasts from today.  

The safety and wellbeing of our residents and employees is our priority and we are taking every effort to prepare for this weather situation. We have reviewed our generators, fuel and food stocks and continue to closely monitor for updates and advice from the SES.

In the rare event that an evacuation is required, our teams are fully briefed on our Emergency Management Plans and will ensure that we keep you updated at every step of the way.

While we always welcome visitors at Whiddon, we encourage you to also prepare and stay safe, and to avoid travel to our impacted Homes over the next few days.

In the event that you are unable to contact your local Home, you can call our team on 1300 738 388 and we will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.  

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

The Whiddon Team

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives,

Following consultation with the Public Health Unit, we are pleased to inform you that the outbreak in Arthur Webb Court has been declared over.

As a precautionary measure, all visitors must continue to wear surgical masks due to cases in the community.

We thank everyone for their support and understanding whilst our team managed this latest Outbreak.

The Whiddon Team

Dear Whiddon Wingham Residents, Families & Representatives,

Please find important information regarding a visit to Whiddon Wingham from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission here:
Whiddon Wingham ACQSC Audit

Regards,

The Whiddon Team

Dear Residents, Families, Friends & Representatives of Whiddon Kelso,

Please be advised that we are currently experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak.

We have had two residents test positive to COVID and as a result, we are enacting our Outbreak Management plan. If your loved one tests positive, please note our RN will call you directly to inform you of their condition.

The safety of our residents and team members is our number one priority. We ask your support to ensure their safety is maintained:

Visiting may still occur during this period, restricted to resident rooms only.

• Visitors are required to follow our safety precautions including:
  • RAT to be attended on entry and N95 mask to be applied prior to visiting and worn throughout the care homes.
  • Regular handwashing and use of hand sanitisers are strongly encouraged. Hand sanitising stations are available throughout Kelso and other areas including reception.
  • For those visitors who are visiting positive residents we have supplied full PPE, please wear them correctly during your visit and seek RN assistance if you need.
  • Maintain appropriate social distancing whenever possible.
  • All visitors are encouraged to consider postponing any visits if they are unwell or experiencing any flu-like symptoms.

Please also note that Resident and Relative meeting scheduled for Friday the 21st will be postponed until next week, with a date and time to be confirmed next week.

We will share a further update once we know more.

Dear Residents, Families, Friends & Representatives of Whiddon Wingham,

Please read for an update regarding the current COVID-19 exposure/outbreak at Whiddon Wingham.

First of all, we want to thank you all for your patience during this time. We are moving forward with better news!

The residents that have consented for Antiviral medication have been recuperating speedily and we have taken all measures to ensure the wellbeing of the residents during this recovery period.

There is still Covid out there in the community. As a result, we have experienced one resident and at least one staff positive cases including 2 residents in the Primrose wing in the last week.

There have also been instances where members of the community have not followed our precautions of wearing COVID masks and following hand hygiene instructions, which has been challenging for after-hours employees. These are in place to keep our residents, employees and wider Whiddon community safe.

As a reminder, I request that all community members adhere to infection control precautions of wearing a mask throughout the time when visiting and practicing hand hygiene on arrival and frequently if coming in contact with objects and when leaving the premises. Where unsure you can ask the RN staff to guide you. Your cooperation is highly appreciated.

We are taking all measures as per NSW COVID guidelines with residents and staff to ensure the outbreak.

The safety of our residents and team members is our number one priority and your support is essential in overcoming this outbreak!

For this to take place, please note:

• Visiting may still occur during this period, restricted to resident rooms only.
• Visitors are required to follow our safety precautions including:
  • RAT to be attended on entry and N95 mask to be applied prior to visiting.
  • Regular handwashing and use of hand sanitizers are strongly encouraged. Hand sanitizing stations are available throughout  the Wingham Wing and other areas including reception.
  • For those visitors who are visiting positive residents we have supplied full PPE. Please wear them correctly during your visit and seek RN assistance if you need.
  • Maintain appropriate social distancing whenever possible.

• All visitors are encouraged to consider postponing any visits if they are unwell or experiencing any flu-like symptoms.

We thank everyone for their support and understanding while our team manage this exposure/outbreak.

Please do feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns on 02-5594 3200.

Kind Regards,

Veronica John
Residential Services Manager

Dear Residents, Families, Friends & Representatives of Whiddon Easton Park – Arthur Webb Court,

Please be advised that we are currently experiencing a COVID-19 Outbreak, as declared by Public Health.

The safety of our residents and team members is our number one priority. We ask for your support to ensure this outbreak is contained.

For this to take place, please note:

• Visiting may still occur during this period, restricted to resident rooms only.
• Visitors are required to follow our safety precautions including:
  negative RAT (test) before entry and N95 mask is to be worn upon entry.
• Regular handwashing and use of hand sanitisers are strongly encouraged. Hand sanitising stations are available throughout the facility and other areas including reception.
• For those visitors who are visiting positive residents we have supplied full PPE, please wear them correctly during your visit and seek RN assistance if you need.
• Maintain appropriate social distancing whenever possible.
• All visitors are encouraged to consider postponing any visits if they are unwell or experiencing any respiratory or flu-like symptoms.

We thank everyone for their support and understanding while our team manage this outbreak.

Regards,

The Whiddon Team

Dear Whiddon Temora Families, Friends & Representatives,

Following consultation with the Public Health Unit, we are pleased to inform you that the outbreak at Whiddon Temora has been declared over.

We thank everyone for their support and understanding whilst our team managed this latest outbreak.

We understand and continue to encourage those who are unwell to, if possible, refrain from visiting their loved ones until symptoms clear to keep our residents and team members safe.

– The Whiddon Team

Dear Whiddon Employees,

In the interest of open disclosure, we write to you to advise, that a sum of money has gone missing at the Kyogle facility.

We are very saddened by this news and would like to take this opportunity to discourage all residents, families and team members from having large sums of money on the premises where possible.

We would like to reassure you that we are carrying out a thorough investigation of these matters with the assistance of the NSW police. We have also reported these incidents to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission as part of the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS).

We have also shared an update with residents and their families, and reminded them of the statement in the Resident Handbook relating to storing valuable personal items:

If you would like to discuss these matters further, please do not hesitate to speak to me.

Kind Regards

Alaya Mu
Kyogle Residential Services Manager

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives,

Following consultation with the Public Health Unit, we are pleased to inform you that the outbreak in Easton Park Units has been declared over.

As a precautionary measure, all visitors must continue to wear surgical masks due to cases in the community.

We thank everyone for their support and understanding whilst our team managed this latest Outbreak.

The Whiddon Team

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives,

In the interest of open disclosure, we write to you to advise, that a sum of money has gone missing at the Kyogle facility.

We are very saddened by this news and would like to take this opportunity to discourage all residents, families and team members from having large sums of money on the premises where possible.

We would like to reassure you that we are carrying out a thorough investigation of these matters with the assistance of the NSW police. We have also reported these incidents to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission as part of the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS).

We are unable to store personal items of value on your behalf and encourage you to store valuable items securely in your room. We understand that you may wish to bring your own small items and soft furnishings with you, to make this feel more like your home. Please reach out to a team member if you have any questions in relation to which items are appropriate.

If you would like to discuss these matters further, please do not hesitate to speak to me.

Kind Regards

Alaya Mu
Kyogle Residential Services Manager