Victorian retirement village manager Ross Dunning has been celebrated as the winner of the National Programmed Award for Village Manager of the Year, presented at a gala ceremony on the Gold Coast.
Ross has been the senior manager of the Arcadia Group's Rylands of Hawthorn independent living retirement community in Melbourne since 2017. The complex includes 84 apartments over five levels and accommodation for more than 100 residents.
Ross started working in the retirement living sector in 2013 following a career in hospitality and the wine industry and has brought a strong focus on customer service and satisfaction to his role.
Ross' experience has markedly improve residents' enjoyment of their retirement living experience at Rylands, including a number of special events and celebrations which have been delivered in conjunction with the residents' social committee. A continuous improvement program that he instituted has been adopted by the entire Arcadia Group.
Ross has brought a special focus to the challenge of supporting residents suffering from dementia and dementia-related issues, and has been been proactive in developing solutions for residents and their families. He has also driven a strong focus on training and development for his staff which has contributed to confident and mutually friendly relationships between staff and residents.
He has successfully overseen a number of complex projects at Rylands of Hawthorn such as the sourcing of a solar energy provider, which has delivered significant savings on energy costs.
The Programmed Award for Village Manager of the Year is part of the National Retirement Living Awards, which recognise the contribution and achievements across all areas of the retirement living sector by the people and companies helping ensure senior Australians have an enjoyable retirement.
There are currently more than 180,000 people living in more than 2,300 retirement villages across Australia. With 22 per cent of Australians expected to be over the age of 65 by 2054, the need for comfortable, affordable and supportive retirement living options is ever-increasing.
