Shaping the next chapter of Kalyra

Q. Sara, you have built an incredible career spanning more than four decades in health and aged care services. What initially drew you to this work?

I originally trained as a nurse and used that as a way to travel the world. I worked in London, Scotland, and the Middle East. In fact, my first aged care role was as a private nurse to Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who was then the ruler of Dubai and the President of the United Arab Emirates.

The Sheikh had a team of around-the-clock nurses. It was amazing because what we provided was absolutely person-centred care. We did things like spread his clothes on a wooden frame over a brazier full of hot coals and incense to scent his clothes. That concept of entering someone else’s culture and providing really person- centred care had a big impact on me.

 

Q. Since then, you have progressed to a highly respected leader in the aged care sector. Can you tell us a bit about this journey?

I’ve worked in a lot of different settings and in a range of roles over the years. Each one has honed my passion for strong governance, community and enriching lives.

In 1993, I was deployed to Somalia as part of the United Nations Operation Restore Hope as a Registered Nurse with the Royal Australian Navy. That experience of working in a country experiencing civil war and famine certainly changes your perspective on life. It made me really appreciate good governance and democracy because when it all falls apart, it’s terrible.

I then became an Honorary Aide at Government House for Dame Roma Mitchell, who was the first female Governor in Australia. I have also been a Chair on various national and state boards and held CEO and Deputy CEO positions at two other healthcare organisations before joining Kalyra in 2015. So, it has been quite a journey!

 

Q. What inspired you to join and lead Kalyra as CEO?

I was ready for a new challenge, but I also wanted to be somewhere where I was the right fit, and where the organisation would be the right fit for me. I wasn’t prepared to compromise.

What struck me about Kalyra was its integrity, strong governance, and the fact it’s willing to do things a bit differently. It’s open to change, and it has an amazing history.

 

The Trust that operates Kalyra was set up in 1892 by a remarkable woman called Jessie Brown, whose vision was to provide quality services for people in need. It’s been through quite a few iterations over the years as it has responded to community needs. In the beginning, we provided services for children with polio. Later on, we became a sanatorium for tuberculosis. Because of the times we’re living in today, our services are to enhance life for older people.

Change is in the fabric of Kalyra – we’re good at change, we’ve been responding to change for 133 years. We are also deeply embedded in the local community, which I really value.

 

Q. What is most important to you as CEO of Kalyra?

People. The people we provide services to and the people who deliver those services. Whatever we do, whatever change we introduce, it must benefit the people we care for and the people at Kalyra who provide that care.

 

Q. What achievement are you most proud of during your time at Kalyra and why?

There are two things that really stick out to me. One is the co-location of the Southern Montessori Middle School at Kalyra Woodcroft Residential Aged Care. That involved a huge consultation process, but it has been a fantastic experience both for our residents and for the students.

Without a doubt, we live in an ageist society, and one of the best ways we can tackle ageism is by fostering intergenerational connections. The Montessori Middle School gives students and Woodcroft residents the opportunity to interact, to learn from each other, and to have fun.

I’m also very proud of Kalyra’s response to the COVID-19 emergency. We sent five team members to Victoria as part of the Prime Minister’s Emergency Response, a military-supported government initiative to support aged-care facilities in the first wave that didn’t have any staff. They had to follow really tight military and health rules to ensure their own health and safety. What they did was amazing. They were real heroes.

 

Q. How would you describe the heart of Kalyra and what sets it apart from other aged care services providers?

There’s a real thread of kindness through Kalyra. Our people are kind and they will go the extra mile, which is pretty special. We’re a community, and we’re here for the right reasons.

We’re also very focused on sustainability. We take stewardship of the organisation seriously because we want it to be here for another 130 years. There’s an ethos of you come in, you take the baton for your time here, and then you pass it on to whoever comes next. So, we’re always building on the shoulders of those who have gone before us, and we leave it in good order for those who come after us.

 

Q. What makes a career at Kalyra so rewarding?

It’s very meaningful, valuable work. At the end of the day, you know you’ve made a great contribution to society by working in the aged care sector.

Ensuring older people are valued, helping them to feel part of a community where they are respected and cared for – it’s the stuff of life, really.

 

Q. What qualities do you look for in team members?

People who are good team players, who are collaborative, have good listening skills and who are caring. Also, people who have a sense of fun and are innovative. Our team is always looking at how we can improve our services to create communities of belonging that really enhance the lives of older people.

 

Q. What is your vision for Kalyra’s next chapter?

We have a history of steady growth and development, and we will continue to grow steadily, providing services where the greatest community need is. Right now, that means services that enable people to stay at home for longer.

We’re also looking at further embedding ourselves in the local community. We’ve grown our retirement living offering quite significantly over the past five years, and our retirement villages are all located near our other services, such as Help at Home.

That means we can really partner with people and support them in their whole journey as an older person. We know from research that the real game changer in all of this is when people have a sense of belonging and strong relationships, they will live longer, healthier lives. That’s our vision for the future.

 

Q. Why is now an exciting time for someone to join the team?

We’ve got a lot happening at the moment. The aged care sector is now being funded much more effectively. The community has demonstrated it values the aged care sector because we’ve seen an increase of 30% in staff wages through the Fair Work Commission. So, that tells us the community believes people in this sector need to be remunerated for their skills and that those skills are incredibly important. That community interest and support has been a game changer. It’s given us an enormous boost to go into the future with even greater confidence.

 

Q. How has Kalyra changed your perspective on life?

When I started as CEO, it was for altruistic reasons. It was to ensure a better quality of life for others. It has become a bit more personal for me now. Both my parents have gone through aged care – in fact, my mother was a resident at Kalyra Belair. Now, I want to make sure the sector is in really good order going forward because I’m the next generational cab off the rank.

 

Q. What do you see for yourself in the future?

I want to continue building on the strengths of this organisation. I’m so proud to see how much Kalyra has grown and developed. When it is my turn to pass on the baton, I hope to be leaving it in a really good space, as it was when I joined. People here do really care, and that’s nice to be part of.