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A CHARITY worker, teacher, school student and consumer adviser at the Royal Adelaide Hospital are the 2018 SA Pride of Australia winners.

The inspiring community-minded quartet are the stand out choices from dozens of nominations for the popular News Corp awards, devised 14 years ago to celebrate the spirit of those doing extraordinary things to help or save others.

Charity worker Rachael Zaltron founded Backpacks4SAKids in 2014 in memory of a friend who died before her dream of becoming a foster carer came true.

The charity transforms lives by providing assistance to children in care, homeless youth and families starting again after domestic violence incidents.

WINNERS: Harriette Rogers, 9, with Brett Partington, left, Steven Cameron, and Rachael Zaltron.Picture: DYLAN COKER

Ms Zaltron is one of two full-time employees, alongside 200 volunteers, who distribute more than 2500 backpacks annually.

“It’s the first award we’ve won so it’s very special,” the Ridgehaven resident said at the medal presentation at Keith Murdoch House yesterday. “It’s such an honour and an amazing acknowledgment of all the work our team have done.”

Harriette Rogers, 9, is keen to get her medal back to Seymour College to show her classmates, who supported her growing her hair long so it could be cut off and used to make wigs for children who had lost their hair to cancer.

After two years, 35cm needed to be trimmed.

“I’m thinking of doing it again but mum’s not too excited at the prospect of all the knots,” she said.

From Stirling, Harriette is organising a bike ride fund raiser to help add to the $3200 she has already raised for Canteen, a charity supporting children with cancer.

Brett Partington, a consumer adviser who started an online support group for families dealing with dementia, with more than 1200 members, paid tribute to his family, including mum Jan and sister Jane.

“When Dad (Bob) was diagnosed we were like the Brady Bunch … we gathered up and gave each other support,” the Woodside resident said. “We’ve been through hell but hoping to help others through this journey now.”

In response to family struggles with his father’s 10 year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease, Brett founded online support group ‘Dementia Downunder’ – backed by professionals – that helps Australian families dealing with dementia.

Steven Cameron, who founded the Australian Association for Men in early Childhood Education, was humbled by the support of staff at the Kidman Park’s Barbara Kiker Memorial Kindergarten who nominated him.

“Knowing they thought that much of me was special enough and winning a medal was not in mind,” the Prospect resident said.

“It’s a very nice medal … and going to go nicely next to the Kung Fu medal I’ve got, which is not quite the same quality.”

Source: Advertiser Newspaper (SA) March 1, 2018

ARTICLE – ‘THE CHANGING CULTURE IN AGED CARE’

The Advertiser, 9 January 2017

THE like-it-or-lump-it approach that sees children throwing dinner, bath and bedtime tantrums has long been used in aged care but is finally falling from favour.

Regimented schedules in aged care-homes are being replaced with progressive thinking that puts residents at the centre of the plan, says Alzheimer’s Australia SA acting chief executive officer Rajiv Chand.

“Aged care is now very much moving to person-centred care,” he says.

“Not everyone likes to get up at 7am, have a shower and have breakfast.

“It’s (about) getting used to that thinking that we’re all unique.

“You shouldn’t need to conform to the schedule. Why can’t the schedule work around you?”

Mr Chand says every resident used to get the same food and the same care at the same times but they were likely to be happier if they were treated as individuals, instead of as a group.

“Not everyone likes porridge or toast for breakfast,” he says.

“It’s about being very much in tune with a person’s likes or dislikes.

“It’s very simple but it used to happen — everyone used to get the same everything.”

He says many of the changes to dementia care do not have to cost more.

As well as changing how staff relate to residents and how their schedules are managed, care providers are doing more to create a homelike atmosphere.

Mr Chand says there is “very much a positive trend” in aged care and people looking for a place for their parent living with dementia should do their homework.

“Do your research; go to a few aged-care homes,” he says.

“Maybe get there at lunch time and sit there for an hour or two. You’ll work out if this is the right place you want to put your mum or dad.”

To read the full article – click the link below:

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/the-changing-culture-in-aged-care/news-story/9a6498575667b2eeed2387ffdff0e15d

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‘Pride of Australia’ Awards 2018 – Put Spotlight on Dementia Downunder

The Changing Culture in Aged Care