An existing member of the nation's top training program for Village Managers, and one former participant who asked to come back into the program after she had won, were awarded top honours at the National Retirement Living Awards last Thursday evening.

The National Village Manager of the Year award went to Melinda Akehurst, who is Village Manager of Aveo’s Bayview Gardens Retirement Living on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. She praised her team for the award, although did ask for a pay rise after winning. Melinda is a former member of the DCM Institute, being a participant from 26/11/2021 until around 2023.

An existing member of the DCM Institute was also a winner:

• The Health Metrics Award for Future Leader of the Year – Community Leadership was awarded to Sabrina Brar, a Retirement Living Village Manager for Anglicare Sydney. She has been employed by the Not For Profit for seven years and two months. Sabrina has been with DCM Institute since August 2021.
• The winner of the Health Metrics Award for Future Leader of the Year – Corporate Leadership was Jessica Madden, Operations Manager - Retirement Living for Ozcare, where she has been employed for five years.