Chief Executive Jane Pickering said Eldercare has made a conscious effort to foster a supportive organisational culture centred on the values of respect, accountability and connection.

“A high level of employee engagement is vital to our success – when you look after your staff, you create a dedicated team that is committed to fulfilling Eldercare’s purpose of delivering peace of mind with our care,” said Jane.

“We have seen a big improvement in staff engagement over the last two years which can be attributed to our health and wellbeing initiatives, rewards and recognition programs, social clubs, flexible hours and job sharing arrangements.”

Ms Pickering said cultivating a positive workplace culture was ‘a balancing act’.

“What we’ve learnt along the way is that our employees need reassurance that they are working for a stable and reliable employer,” said Jane.

“They also need to know that they are working for an organisation that can embrace innovation and create exciting opportunities for them to grow their careers with us for the long term.”

Ms Pickering said Eldercare’s commitment to gender equality and helping end violence against women as a White Ribbon accredited workplace have also been major factors behind increased employee satisfaction.

“The majority of our workforce is female so Eldercare has a responsibility to advocate on these issues,” said Jane.

“By raising awareness of the issue of domestic violence, in particular, we are making a positive difference by creating an environment at Eldercare where it is safe for women to disclose and seek help.”

Ms Pickering said that Eldercare’s nomination meant that the organisation was also a finalist for the Community Choice Award which is voted for by the public.

Votes for the Community Choice Award can be made via the South Australian Community Achievement Awards Facebook page.

The awards will be announced at a gala event on Friday 2 November 2018.