Author: despinao

22 June 2022

Since our last update, we are pleased to share that there have been no residents or employees testing positive to COVID. Level 1 and our Dementia Secure Unit, Mallam continue to be in red zones with positive COVID cases. For now, visitation to the Level 1 and Mallam is limited to one nominated partner-in-care. Partners-in-care may be asked to wear additional PPE at this time such as a face shield. Please refrain from visiting if you are unwell.

We are continuing to work closely with the local Public Health Unity and following their advice to manage this outbreak.

Please note, this does not impact Whiddon Easton Park – Arthur Webb Court, Taylor House or Sir David Martin.

We want to also remind you that all visits must be pre-booked. All visitors are required to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry and wear an N95 mask.

We will provide a further update next week.

20 June 2022

Please note that Quality Assessors from the Australian Government Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission are onsite at Easton Park from today, for four days. This visit is part of the re-accreditation process. Please be mindful that our teams onsite will be working with the Assessors over the next four days.

The Quality Assessors will be visiting our Sir David Martin building and Taylor House building (excluding Coates Wing).

If you would like to speak with the assessors that are onsite, you can make a booking to do so on 02 9827 6735. Bookings are essential and our COVID-19 visitation requirements and considerations apply, to help keep everyone safe.

Alternatively, you can contact the Australian Government Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission direct on 1800 951 822 and select option 2 when prompted. You can also provide feedback via an online survey at https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/consumer-feedback (to open the survey, use the code 0243).

For more information visit www.agedcarequality.gov.au

18 June 2022

We have been informed that an employee at Whiddon Narrabri Robert Young has tested positive to COVID-19.

This is a low risk of exposure to residents. For now, there have been no changes to visitations.

All visitations must be pre-booked, and visitors will be required to wear N95 masks and conduct a Rapid Antigen Test prior to entry.

We will provide a further update if anything changes.

17 June 2022

Since our last update, we have unfortunately had multiple residents test positive to COVID in our John Read House. All residents in John Read House will undergo PCR testing based on the advice of the local Public Health Unit.

The families of the residents have been notified. For now, visitation to John Read House is limited to one nominated partner-in-care. Bookings must be made with our admin clerks. Partners-in-care may be asked to wear additional PPE at this time such as a face shield. Please refrain from visiting if you are unwell.

Please note that this does not impact the visitation arrangements currently in place at Keppel House.

We will provide another update once we know more.

17 June 2022

Since our last updated, we’re pleased to share that Level 2A of Easton Park Units is now clear, with no residents testing positive to COVID.

Level 1 and our Dementia Secure Unit, Mallam are currently red zones with positive COVID cases. The families of the residents have been notified. For now, visitation to the Level 1 and Mallam is limited to one nominated partner-in-care. Partners-in-care may be asked to wear additional PPE at this time such as a face shield. Please refrain from visiting if you are unwell.

We are continuing to work closely with the local Public Health Unity and following their advice to manage this outbreak. We will also be monitoring residents and employees for any respiratory symptoms, and conducting further tests next week.

Please note, this does not impact Whiddon Easton Park – Arthur Webb Court, Taylor House or Sir David Martin.

We want to also remind you that all visits must be pre-booked. All visitors are required to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry and wear an N95 mask.

We are also committed to keeping you up-to-date of the situation and will provide a further update once we know more.

17 June 2022

We have had an employee test positive to COVID-19.  There is a moderate risk of exposure to residents, employees and visitors as the employee who tested positive was working the night shift.

We are undertaking Rapid Antigen Tests of all residents, and will also test on Day 4 and Day 7 to monitor any potential transmission. Currently, all tested residents and employees are feeling well which is great news! Employees are also continuing to conduct a Rapid Antigen Test prior to their shift commencing.

For now, there are no changes to visitation, resident activities or outings.

We will provide a further update if there are any changes.

Would you like to be part of building an inclusive workplace at Whiddon where you will have a voice to change perspectives on cultural identity all whilst having fun and connecting with other team members? If the answer is yes, then we invite you to join our Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Recently during Harmony week we invited you to attend our Diversity and Inclusion BBQ where you were introduced to members of A Human Agency (A-HA). A-HA who are assisting us to create greater awareness of diversity and inclusion in all our homes at Eastern Park. Following the BBQ a number of team members attended Listening Sessions with A-HA where you provided feedback and ideas on building cultural awareness and inclusion.

Whiddon listened to your feedback and ideas and are excited to announce we have created a Diversity and Inclusion Committee with the vision that this Committee will reflect the diversity of all employees and contribute to building an inclusive workplace at Eastern Park.

To help establish the D&I Committee we are calling for nominations from team members who would like to be part of this exciting opportunity! There are five positions available with one person representing each of our homes. The D&I Committee will meet monthly (paid time) where you will act as Whiddon Cultural Advisors putting a voice to practical ideas in how we can celebrate all our different cultures and to help build a sense of belonging within the Whiddon Community.

In more exciting news, to prepare for the upcoming Diwali festival we are setting up a special Diwali Working Group who will lead the planning for this celebration at Whiddon Easton Park. There are five positions available, and we encourage anyone who is familiar with Diwali to nominate themselves! The Diwali Working Group may involve:

• Providing recipes to be cooked onsite at Whiddon
• Planning and sourcing special decorations for our Homes
• Ideas on how to educate the broader community about this festival
• Ideas on how to share the celebration with residents

We want to create something special for all who are rostered to work on their festival days, so stay tuned for a call out for the next cultural working group.

To nominate to be part of either the D&I Committee or the Diwali Working Group please send an email to jobs@whiddon.com.au and include a few sentences on how you would contribute to building a diversity action plan which celebrates the different culture at Whiddon or how you would like to help celebrate Whiddon’s Diwali celebrations.

23 June 2022

Whiddon is participating in an exciting project called Design for Care. The project is being led by researchers and psychologists from Curtin University (Perth) and the University of Sydney. This project will help us better understand how to support wellbeing in the aged care sector and provide you with an even better employee experience.

We will be at Whiddon Wingham from 10am on Friday 24 June and encourage you to come and speak to us in person about the benefits of the Design for Care project!

We also have a video for you which you can watch here: Design for Care

16 June 2022

Whiddon is participating in an exciting project called Design for Care. The project is being led by researchers and psychologists from Curtin University (Perth) and the University of Sydney. This project will help us better understand how to support wellbeing in the aged care sector and provide you with an even better employee experience.

We are holding an information session on Friday, 24 June at 10.30am at Whiddon Laurieton and encourage you to attend. Below is more information about the Design for Care Survey.

We also have a video for you which you can watch here: Design for Care

16 June 2022

Whiddon is participating in an exciting project called Design for Care. The project is being led by researchers and psychologists from Curtin University (Perth) and the University of Sydney. This project will help us better understand how to support wellbeing in the aged care sector and provide you with an even better employee experience.

We are holding an information session on Thursday, 23 June at 10.30am and 2.30pm at Whiddon Redhead and encourage you to attend. Below is more information about the Design for Care Survey.

We also have a video for you which you can watch here: Design for Care