2006

On 1 January 2006, Carole commenced in the position of Board President, following the retirement of Geoff Bean on 31 December 2005, after he served the Board for 17 years. Carole joined the board in 1997, also joining the finance committee at that time. She was also a member of the Executive from 1998, in the role of Treasurer.

In his final annual report, Geoff stated: ‘The period from 1995–2005 has seen enormous changes in aged care in Australia. The most striking factor to me has not been the growth in aged care, although that has been significant. It is the enormous increase in the complexity of the requisite management systems, checks and controls, instituted by the Australian Government. Many have helped to raise standards, but some have been overly bureaucratic… The only certainty about the future is that the rate of change will not slow down and that there will be major challenges and wonderful opportunities in aged care.’

At the time of her appointment, Carole noted the ‘maintenance of a Christian focus at Board level’ and of the exceptional emphasis on service demonstrated by Richard Hearn as Chief Executive, and Geoff Bean as her predecessor: ‘The members who served with him counted themselves fortunate to be led by such a wise, knowledgeable and dedicated man’.

‘At the heart of the Board’s concern’, said Carole, ‘was the need to maintain a strategic approach that dealt with the critical matters of staffing, management of growth, quality of life for the aged, and continual improvement of services and their delivery.’