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International Women’s Day 2022 – Celebrating Women in the Care Industry

International Women's Day

At ionMy, we strongly value the contributions made to our communities by women. This March 8th we celebrate and show our appreciation for the work and efforts of the mothers, sisters, aunties, daughters and grandmothers that work so hard in building a better environment for the care sector.

This year’s International Women’s Day campaign theme is #BreakTheBias. Whether deliberate or unconscious, the bias makes it difficult for women to move ahead. Knowing that bias exists isn’t enough, action is needed to level the playing field.

International Women’s Day is a movement that has been recognised for over 100 years. And as time has gone on, women’s voices have strengthened to the point where they can no longer be ignored. Our team supports work cultures where women’s careers thrive and their achievements are celebrated. 

Technology in the care sector

Women and the care industry

The Aged Care Industry has always been very female-dominated. Data from the Australian Workplace Gender Equality Agency indicates that 83.3% of the ‘aged care residential services’ workforce is female. It also indicates that 80% of the health care and social assistance workforce is female. 

As the numbers show, in the broader healthcare space, women outnumber men. But still, too few women rise to upper management roles in the industry. According to AWHL, the Australian healthcare sector is not supporting its workforce to meet its full potential. Despite making up 75% of the health care workforce women are only 45% of public hospital board chairs, 39% of private hospital CEOs. Women are the majority of the workforce but do not hold an equitable share of healthcare leadership positions.

The care industry would be a very different landscape if it wasn’t so permeated with feminine perspectives.

To mark this special day and support the movement for equality, we celebrate the work of some outstanding female leaders in the care industry who ionMy has the honour to support through our solution. 

Female leaders in the care sector

Each of them, in their own ways, is helping shape the care sector and are contributing to a more diverse and inclusive world, where difference is valued and celebrated.

 

Viv Allanson – CEO at Maroba 

Viv Allanson is a Registered Nurse with 46 years of nursing experience in the acute and aged care sector. Viv, who was a Finalist in the 2020 NSW/ACT Regional Achievement & Community Awards is a fearless and passionate advocate for the older person and leads with integrity, creativity and a commitment to excellence.

Viv Allanson is a CEO who never accepts the Status Quo, she is a leader who strives to bring others on the journey of growth and change always sharing generously her time and experience to support all who aspire to be a “Difference Maker”, as covered in a podcast interview with Awards Australia. The Registered Nurse in Viv never lays down and is always advocating for the profession and its advancement as an integral part of the Health Care team. 

 

Jenni Allan – CEO at ADSSI

Chief Executive Officer Jenni Allan has been leading ADSSI since 2004. Her strong financial background and passion for clients drive the organisation to achieve excellence in client services.

As the CEO, Jenni is committed to making a difference in the lives of their clients and to supporting our staff in their daily activities. She is passionate about providing a working environment that promotes ongoing learning, development and career progression.

Through her LinkedIn profile, Jenni shares “With many changes occurring in the Aged and Disability Sectors, it is both an exciting and challenging time to be the CEO. And with all the uncertainties surrounding the future environment in which we operate, communication with everyone, but especially staff, has never been more important.”

 

Dr Tracey Mackie – CEO at Momentum Collective

Tracey has over 20 years of experience in senior and executive management roles in the community sector, including aged care, health and children’s services. 

In 2011 Tracey received the Vincent Fairfax Foundation Churchill Fellowship to explore Active Ageing and Reablement models in the UK, USA, Canada and New Zealand. Tracey has extensively researched, developed and implemented innovative customer-centric service models focusing on wellness, reablement and positive ageing for aged care organisations.

 

Sue Levy – CEO at Goodwin

Sue is a business management professional with over 20 years of experience. She transitioned into aged care in 2009 as a village manager for Goodwin, extending her portfolio into community care, human resources, WH&S and corporate governance, becoming the CEO in 2014.

With a strong knowledge of business operations and contract management Sue has been responsible for multi funded budgets ranging from $10 million to $500 million. She has experience in all aspects of forecasting, resource allocation, fund management, risk management, conflict management, contract management and aged care policy. She is passionate about equal care for all, and the right to quality of life.

 

Anna Howard – CEO at Murray Mallee Aged Care Group (MMACG)

Anna joined Murray Mallee Aged Care Group (MMACG) in June 2014 as Chief Executive Officer. Anna has led the organisation’s expansion of home care services into metropolitan Adelaide, where services are provided predominantly, but not exclusively, to older Italian people. 

 

Anna has in-depth aged care sector experience which has spanned across Local Government, and the Not-for Profit NonGovernment Sector for more than 25 years. Anna has specific experience in the delivery of services to the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities and Aboriginal Communities. Anna currently represents MMACG on the Aged & Community Services Australia (ACSA), Divisional Council, Retirement Living Advisory Committee, and the Community Care Advisory Committee. She is also a past Chairperson of Multicultural Aged Care where she served for more than ten years. 

 

Danielle MacKenzie – CEO  at Sundale

As CEO at Sundale, a community based, not for profit, retirement and care centre organisation, Danielle supports the needs of the community by overseeing outstanding care and assistance services.

Danielle is passionate about aged care and ensuring older and vulnerable Australians have access to exceptional services is her commitment to staff and community empowerment. Through her LinkedIn profile, Danielle shares that “As a high-achieving, motivated change agent and transformational leader, I love nothing more than empowering people to shine with confidence and to understand their own greatness.”

 

Amanda Blight – CEO at HenderCare

Amanda Blight joined HenderCare in 2014 as the organisation’s CEO. Amanda is an experienced leader with a broad knowledge in the areas of community care, aged care, disability service provision, out-of-home care for children and acute nursing, and expansive background in business development. 

In an article written by HenderCare about International Women’s Day, Amanda says the special date “provides an opportunity to recognise the achievements of women globally. Women are often the quiet achievers and it’s one day of the year when we unite to celebrate these achievements”.

 

To find out more about International Women’s Day and how to get involved, visit https://www.internationalwomensday.com/ 

 

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