General News
5 June, 2023
New executive team appointed at Havilah
Maryborough’s aged care provider Havilah has welcomed a new executive team, as the organisation undergoes a shift to create a sustainable and competitive service locally. Havilah’s board has appointed Tracey Saunders as the organisation’s...
Maryborough’s aged care provider Havilah has welcomed a new executive team, as the organisation undergoes a shift to create a sustainable and competitive service locally.
Havilah’s board has appointed Tracey Saunders as the organisation’s interim CEO, with new directors of care, a chief financial officer and manager of people and culture among the new positions and appointments.
Starting with Havilah in June last year, Ms Saunders was appointed interim CEO last month and said it’s an exciting time for change at the organisation.
“We had a number of retirements and staff move on to other positions, so we’ve had to recruit and that’s meant a new executive team,” she said.
“That’s not an issue exclusive to Havilah — every aged care organisation you meet with is having the same challenges around recruitment and sustainability across the board.
“That being said, we are excited about the future of Havilah as we continue to grow to meet and support the needs of the community.”
Founded in 1995, Havilah started out with a single aged care campus in Harkness Street, with later expansions adding aged care and independent living units in Palmerston Street and most recently at The Terrace, also located in Palmerston Street.
While the organisation has expanded to keep up with the need for aged care services locally, Ms Saunders said Havilah is almost at capacity, with a key focus for her being recruitment of staff and Havilah’s sustainability into the future.
“The biggest thing for me is our recruitment program and ensuring that Havilah is going to be sustainable into the future,” she said.
“We are almost at full capacity, I’d say we’re at about 98 percent capacity in Harkness itself and we do have some beds available at The Terrace, but we’re at full capacity at our Palmerston Street facility.
“We’re one of the biggest employers in Maryborough and a respected organisation, so being able to be competitive against the likes of Bendigo, Ballarat, Castlemaine and others is important.
“We want to be the aged care facility of choice and keep up with the needs of our community.”
A Talbot local, Ms Saunders is no stranger to the aged care sector — having spent over two decades working as a personal care attendant and later coordinator of aged care services with the Central Goldfields Shire Council.
Coming into the role, Ms Saunders said her community-mindedness and understanding of the sector would be a significant help.
“I’ve lived in Talbot all my life so I bring to this role a level of community-mindedness, I know the community and area,” she said.
“All aged care staff should be commended for the work that they do and the passion they bring to work — they go above and beyond, it takes a special person to work in aged care and we have a lot of special people here at Havilah.”
Havilah is currently taking expressions of interest for its board, with those interested encouraged to contact the organisation directly.