Crowley wins National Award for Best in Retirement Living

Crowley, one of the leading providers of retirement living and aged care services on the North Coast, has received the very prestigious National Award in Retirement Living, in Melbourne last week.

Up against strong competition from organisations from all over Australia, Crowley’s new Independent Living Apartments won the category for Best Organisation in Retirement Living, at the Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) 2007 National Excellence Awards.

According to Ita Buttrose, prominent business woman and one of the guest judges at the Awards for Excellence, Crowley was all about “innovation, lifestyle, environment, design, care, (with) lots of ideas at Crowley for others in the industry to emulate”.

Michael Penhey, Crowley’s CEO, has attributed the National Award to innovative strategies and his very dedicated staff.

“This Award highlights Crowley’s innovative approach to providing independent retirement living. We also have a very dedicated staff who work together as a team to provide outstanding care to our residents and clients. We are delighted that Crowley has received this prestigious Award,” said Mr Penhey.

The Aged and Community Services Australia Awards are the industry recognition of dedication and innovation in providing services to older Australians. The Awards are based on nominations from indusrty and so reflect peer recognition and reward for excellence.

The panel of eminent judges included prominent philanthropist Baillieu Myer AC; Rt Hon. Ian Sinclair, former Governer General, Sir Ninian Stephen, prominent businesswoman and journalist Ita Buttrose, Robert Fitzgerald AM, Commissioner, Productivity Commission, Moira Rayner, former Equal Opportunity Commissioner and Philip Hereen, 2007 Senior Australian of the Year.

Set on the waterfront in Ballina, Crowley’s new apartments are designed for the needs of older people who want freedom of space and independence, yet need to have the option of extra care if required. The very nature and design of the Crowley Apartments enable residents to interact as much or as little as they choose.

The National Excellence Award complements Crowley’s recent Business of the Year Award from the Ballina Chamber of Commerce.

The Crowley team with their Business of the Year Award

Proving that aged care is a dynamic and progressive industry, Crowley, one of the leading providers of retirement living, aged and community care services on the NSW North Coast, has won the prestigious award of 2007 Business of the Year for the Ballina region.

Due to their innovative independent living apartments, high quality residential care and community care, Crowley stood out as winners in both their Community Service category and overall Business of the Year.

Michael Penhey, CEO of Crowley explained that Crowley’s services, Community Care and Residential Living, have a strong reputation in high quality care and now the new Independent Living Apartments have also been acknowledged as market leaders.

The new Crowley Apartments are first of this type on the NSW North Coast as they provide the best in modern architecture and contempory design with extra care available on site. They were designed as luxury resort stlye living including features like 24 hour call assist buttons that ensure owners have peace of mind.

“It is an innovative approach to the choice of independent retirement living in the Far North Coast of NSW and provides a premium option of care for older people. We were thrilled that Crowley was recognised with this Award,” said Mr Penhey.

“Aged Care is gaining the recognition it deserves for being progressive and Awards like this show other industries how Aged Care is continuing to improve services to meet the different care requirements of our clients and residents,” said Mr Penhey.

Crowley stood out in various areas including their contribution to acting responsibly to the environment. Plans are in place for the eco-boardwalk that will wind through the pristine mangrove trees along their North Creek foreshore.

“Crowley has recently undergone an environmental retrofit accross the Care Centre and Independent Living Units and we continue to promote a “green” living and working environment,” said Mr Penhey.