A few years after retiring from my job as an Executive Assistant at St Andrews, I was approached by the then Chair of the Board of Directors to join the Board as a Director. I’d had five years’ experience with this Board, plus many years in the past working with Boards within other organisations. Of course I said, No, I don’t think so, but I’ll give it some thought, thinking that would be a soft refusal and an end to it. But No! In hindsight, this opened to door for the Chair to persist and, after three months, I agreed.
During my work life there, I became quite attached to St Andrews, the residents and staff. I felt a sense of purpose in the work contributing towards caring for our older Australians. Being a member of the Board has proven to be a double benefit to me – staying in touch with the wider community, plus feeling a sense of purpose in applying my experience and knowledge to a worthwhile endeavour. My own area of interest lies with the residents’ wellbeing and quality of life.
The recent release of the findings of the Royal Commission into Aged Care has brought about a shift in the focus towards caring for our aged population. Rather than the needs of an individual being assessed by clinicians, as was often the case in the past, it is now a “person-centred” approach. This means that each resident has the first say in how they wish their care to be managed – this imparts a feeling of dignity, independence and control over their lives.
The role of Boards in Aged Care has always been to oversee the governance of the organisation and ensure that compliance with government laws and regulations are observed – this is still the case. The Royal Commission has also highlighted the responsibilities and obligations of Board members, with a level of accountability being an important factor in ensuring that the care of residents is being overseen, without actually being involved in the day-to-day operations of the organisation.
The challenges facing Boards are not only financial, clinical and compliance issues, but the need to look to the future with regard to the expected explosion in the number of people, especially “Baby Boomers”, who will need a home and care in what is now the foreseeable future.
Without a community-based Board of Directors to guarantee proper governance, St Andrews would be unable to legally continue operating. I feel privileged to be part of ensuring that St Andrews will continue to grow, serve and care for our ageing population well into the future.
Vicki Knudson
January 2026
