Three participants of the DCM Institute have been named finalists for Leading Age Services Australia (LASA)’s Retirement Village Manager of the Year 2021.
Julie Renshaw, Lyn Ferguson, and Nikki Dhawan are all participants of the DCM Institute, our professional development village management program. It offers an ongoing PD program for Village Managers to upskill and build a career development path. The DCM Institute is for Village Managers and H.O. staff.
LASA CEO Sean Rooney praised this year’s finalists for their exceptional efforts to keep their communities engaged during a particularly trying year as they faced the challenges presented by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m pleased to congratulate our finalists, all of whom are excellent role models for age service managers, both in retirement living and also across the breadth of age services provided by our Members,” Mr Rooney said.
“These examples of leadership are what is needed, and what the community expects, from age services across Australia.”
The Retirement Village Manager of the Year Award aims to promote and reward excellence in the retirement living industry, recognising leadership skills and the ability to run a community which engages residents and enriches their lives.
The four finalists are:
Nikki Dhawan, Bethanie Warwick & Joondanna, West Australia
Nikki manages two different Retirement Villages; Bethanie Warwick and Bethanie Joondanna. She joined Bethanie in 2015.
Julie Renshaw, Long Khanh Lake Front Village, Toukley, NSW
Julie comes from a career in banking, retail and events management which led her to a career in aged care, initially in diversional therapy, before managing her first Village. Julie is Manager of the 100-home Long Khanh Lake Front Village at Canton Beach on the NSW Central Coast, which is part of RSL LifeCare.
Lyn Ferguson, Bethanie Group Elanora, West Australia
Lyn began with Bethanie as a personal assistant in 2004 and became Manager in 2011. She is modest, selfless and a vital member of the wider Bethanie community.
Stephen Pether (pictured right), Bolton Clarke Rowes Bay Retirement Village Manager, Queensland
The winner will be announced on Thursday 10 June at this year’s LASA National Integrated Seniors Housing (NISH) Conference 2021 on Thursday, 10 June.
