2024 ACA/EBOS Healthcare Excellence in Care Award Winners

Recognising Excellence in Aged Care

The Aged Care Association is committed to shining a spotlight on the remarkable dedication and innovation within the aged care sector, recognizing those who make a tangible difference in the lives of elderly New Zealanders and their families. These awards celebrate the extraordinary achievements of care facilities and individuals who go above and beyond to set new standards in quality and compassion, fostering meaningful improvements in aged care across the country.

The 2024 winners, highlighted below, were celebrated at the ACA/EBOS awards ceremony on Tuesday, 22 October at the Viaduct Events Center in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland).

Excellence in Care Award 2024 Winners

EBOS Overall Excellence in Aged Care Award

Each year, one winner from across the award categories is selected by the judging panel as worthy of the title of EBOS Healthcare Overall Winner. Congratulations to this year’s winner, Queen Rose Retirement Home.

PainChek Legendary Service Award

This award recognises the exceptional longevity of service, unwavering commitment, and outstanding contribution of someone who has been an integral part of and actively promoted the aged residential care industry for more than ten years.

About the winner

Mary Stewart is the recipient of the 2024 NZ Aged Care Association’s Legendary Service Award, celebrating over 40 years of dedicated service in nursing and aged residential care. Renowned for her transformational leadership, Mary has significantly impacted residents, families, and colleagues through her expertise and compassion. Her career began in a geriatric hospital at age 13, shaping her commitment to the sector. After training as a registered nurse, she returned to her passion for aged care, developing her own standards of care long before formal regulations existed.

As a leader at Metlifecare, Mary established the first dementia care unit and implemented initiatives to enhance resident care and empower staff. Her mentorship has shaped the careers of many in the sector, fostering environments where nurses thrive.

Mary embodies the essence of transformational leadership, tirelessly advocating for residents and the betterment of aged care, making her a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.

Leecare Solutions Stand-Out Individual Award

This award recognises the commitment and achievements of a stand-out individual in a care facility, or facilities, and is open to anyone who is a volunteer, employed at, or contracted to an aged residential care facility that positively influences resident care outcomes.

About the winner

Bert Ubay-Ubay, the former manager of Beachhaven Care Home, is the deserving recipient of the Leecare Solutions Stand-Out Individual Award for his exceptional commitment to specialized dementia care. Since starting as a caregiver in 2012, Bert’s dedication has led to remarkable improvements in service delivery. Under his leadership, the Beachhaven team achieved significant milestones, including winning the HCSL Innovative Delivery Award 2023 for reducing emergency restraint use by 95% and lowering antipsychotic medications and resident distress incidents by 37%.

Bert’s focus on shared learning and advocacy for specialized dementia care has raised awareness within the health sector about the need for improved services. His commitment to environmental sustainability led to partnerships that reduced landfill waste, and his innovative D6 Puzzle initiative enhanced the dining experience for residents, preventing unintentional weight loss. With high occupancy rates and exceptional engagement scores, Bert’s legacy continues to impact residents positively, making him a true stand-out in aged care.

Healthcare Compliance Solutions Ltd Innovative Delivery Award

This award recognises exceptional effort by organisations and facilities to enhance the excellence of the care they deliver to residents. This may be through innovation, creativity or re-design of the delivery of services in order to provide a true continuum of care options for residents.

About the winner

Generus Living has embraced innovation in aged care by introducing Rendever, a groundbreaking virtual reality (VR) platform, across all four of its care centres in New Zealand. This initiative exemplifies exceptional effort in enhancing care delivery by providing immersive experiences that significantly improve residents’ mental well-being and social engagement.

By integrating Rendever into their activity programs, Generus Living aims to address the unique needs of residents, particularly those who are hard to engage, have cognitive impairments, or are physically unable to participate in traditional activities. The VR experiences have led to a notable uplift in mood for 78% of participants and have fostered increased social interaction, particularly among those receiving hospital-level care.

This innovative approach not only enhances the quality of life for residents but also sets a new benchmark in the sector, demonstrating how creativity and technology can be harnessed to provide a true continuum of care. With overwhelmingly positive feedback from residents and families, Generus Living’s adoption of Rendever underscores their commitment to excellence in care delivery, making this initiative a deserving recipient of the Healthcare Compliance Solutions Ltd Innovative Delivery Award.

Spaceworks Environment Award

This award celebrates organizations or individuals who have demonstrated exceptional sustainability practices through innovative design and/or construction techniques in their new or refurbishment projects. The award aims to highlight those who have successfully integrated sustainable principles into their construction projects while also demonstrating a high level of design and innovation.

About the winner

The redevelopment of the MVT Woburn Masonic Care facility transformed a dated building from the 1960s into a contemporary care complex for 62 residents, prioritising sustainability and resident wellbeing. With input from TEAM Architects and BECA, the project incorporates sustainable initiatives throughout its design and construction, reusing elements from the original structure to minimize waste. Key features include abundant natural light from innovative bay windows, thoughtfully designed corridors to enhance staff efficiency, and four internal courtyards that provide light and views.

The project also includes significant upgrades to existing facilities, such as transforming the original administration wing into a welcoming reception area and repurposing other spaces for community use. Sustainable materials, automated lighting, and a solar panel installation further demonstrate the commitment to eco-friendly practices. This redevelopment not only enhances the living environment for residents but also strengthens the facility’s connection to the surrounding community.

Gilmours Excellence in Food Award for Care Homes and Hospitals

This award recognises innovation and exceptional efforts made by our members to enhance and improve the excellence of the food service and dining experience they deliver to residents.

About the winner

The Bellevue care center in Christchurch has revolutionized its dining experience under Executive Chef Sebastian Straetling, bringing fine-dining quality to residents. Since joining in 2024, Straetling has redesigned the menu with flavorful, restaurant-quality meals, such as lamb shanks and tarts, that have reduced meal returns and boosted meal participation. Residents look forward to dining, with weekly Wednesday night dinners now doubling in attendance as residents and their families join together.

The dining transformation has enriched residents’ lives by fostering social interactions and creating a fulfilling, engaging atmosphere. Positive feedback highlights how The Bellevue has successfully made mealtimes a key part of daily life, providing not only essential nutrition but also enhancing the overall quality of life and community for residents.

If you are keen to partner with ACA to support the Excellence in Care Awards 2025 in October, please contact our Events and Marketing Coordinator, Lili Bush, lili@nzaca.org.nz.