New Zealand-owned Ryman Healthcare has won the “Innovation” category of The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s COVIDSafe Business Awards.
The award recognises Ryman’s industry-leading innovations, including moving staff who were vulnerable to contracting the virus into its villages, developing a digital contact-tracing tool, and being the first aged care provider in Victoria to introduce rapid antigen testing of visitors.
The awards judging panel, chaired by Victorian Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Paul Guerra, said Ryman’s response “helped save lives”. The Victorian COVIDSafe Business Awards were established to recognise industry leaders who have been exemplars in their response to the pandemic.
Ryman Healthcare Australian CEO Cameron Holland said the provider “moved heaven and earth to ensure our villages would be as safe as possible for our residents”.
“That requires a constant focus on innovation and out-of-the box thinking, and a mindset that we need to be really agile in responding to a constantly-evolving threat.
“The emergence of the Omicron variant has put the entire aged care sector under a massive strain, and we’ve had to draw on all our resources and expertise to keep our villages operating safely.”
Well-deserved recognition then.
