Jubilee celebrates 30 years in 2019

Picture courtesy of Michele Wilkinson

Jubilee staff circa 2002: Board member Denise Bolland, receptionist Meredith Beck, coordinator Michele Willkinson, manager Judith Rodins, coordinator Sandra Veldman and administrator Diann Amps.

A brainstorming session by a group of people sitting on bean bags has forever changed the lives of the elderly in Brisbane’s northwest to southwestern corridor. Out of that session in 1989, investigating how to best meet the needs of the elderly around Paddington, was born Jubilee Community Care. Now in 2019, Jubilee celebrates its 30th birthday.

In its inception Jubilee was a Community Options Program, a pilot project by the University of Queensland’s Social Work Department and funded jointly by the Australian and Queensland governments. The project was overseen by a Steering Committee under the auspices of the Aged Care Unit of the Red Hill Paddington Community Centre.

Current Jubilee Management Committee president Judy Salecich reported it was a great success and, in 1996, Jubilee Community Care Association Inc was established as a separate incorporated body. “Many individuals contributed significantly to Jubilee Community Care in those early years,” Dr Salecich said. “Judith Rodins was the first manager (coordinator), leading the pilot program and then the organisation for 14 years from 1989 to 2002. Judith was also a board member for several years.”

Dr Salecich reported Joan Sherrin-Moody was one of Jubilee’s first Brisbane aged care workers, a committee member and Board President. The late Kathleen Szabo, a client, was an inaugural member of the Steering Committee and Board member until 2004. Also, Jenny Bostock was a member of the inaugural Steering Committee and Board President from 1996 to 2004.

The organisation obtained two capital grants through Queensland Health’s Home and Community Care (HACC) Program to purchase first the property at Jubilee Tce, Paddington, then later its current property at 87 Central Ave, Indooroopilly. In 2002 Jubilee Community Care moved from Paddington to temporary premises at Toowong and, in 2003, to its current premises.

Over the years Jubilee has had subtle name changes – from Jubilee Community Care Association Inc to Jubilee Community Care Incorporated (2009) and then Jubilee Community Care Inc (2013).

Jubilee will host its 30th birthday celebrations later this year. Watch this space to find out more. And if you have any memories or memorabilia to share email marketing@jccagedcare.org.au or phone 3871 3220.

Jubilee Community Care has had overwhelmingly positive results from its latest survey of Commonwealth Home Support Program clients. The survey was conducted in February and had a 53 per cent response rate.

Questions asked (and responses) included:
• Would you recommend the services of Jubilee Community Care to other people? (Yes, 100%)
• Jubilee Community Care has provided me with information enabling me to choose services that I want. (Yes, 96%)
• I am supported by Jubilee Community Care in my choice of care and support services. (Yes, 100%)
• If applicable, Jubilee Community Care has referred me to external healthcare service providers such as a podiatrist, physiotherapists etc. (Yes, 83%)
• My services are organised at day(s) / time(s) that suit me. (Yes, 97%)
• My support worker(s) usually arrive on time for my scheduled service. (Yes, 99%)
• My services are usually provided by the same support worker(s). (Yes, 95%)
• My support worker(s) complete tasks in the way I want them done. (Yes, 99%)
• Jubilee Community Care staff treat me with dignity and respect. (Yes,100%)
• I understand the fees that are charged for services provided to me. (Yes, 99%)

Respondents suggested they would recommend Jubilee because it was efficient and well managed; pleasant, helpful and effective; they recieved personalised service; services were affordable; clients could overcome loneliness and social isolation and phobia; and Jubilee had quality staff, excellent communication and first-class activities, and was “Perfectly wonderful in every way”.

When asked how Jubilee could improve responses included:
• By having a greater focus on IT Support
• Recognise, research and introduce new services (eg. gardening, handyman services, hair and nail cutting). Jubilee can arrange access to these services. Please contact our office for details.
• Food preparation – could teach as oppose to just doing it. This would increase the helpfulness of the visits. We will look into this, thank you.

Jubilee Community Care’s Client Support Co-ordination Team has been named a winner in the Team category of the Excellence in Age Services Awards 2019 (Queensland).  Jubilee, a not-for-profit aged care service provider based in Indooroopilly, provides in-home care and support services.

The awards, run by Leading Age Services Australia, aim to promote and recognise excellence across the age services industry and celebrate the passion and achievements of organisations, teams and individuals in the service of older Australians.

Jubilee’s win at the Queensland awards were announced on March 14 at the Queensland Conference of Leading Age Services Australia. As a winner Jubilee will now progress to the national awards at Leading Age Services Australia’s national congress in October.

The Jubilee Community Care team, led by client support manager Nicky Panagopoulos, includes Sandy Kelly, Lorraine Kiss, Kristie Reed, Vicki Burden and Brigid Batchelor.  Collectively, the team has more than 100 years’ experience of caring and arranging personalised, consistent and reliable services for clients, with 35 of the 100 years employed at Jubilee Community Care.

Jubilee director Shaun Riley said he was particularly proud of the team and their recognition.

“To be named as the Queensland team category winner is truly an outstanding achievement and shows our passion for providing quality care and support services for the people we serve,” Mr Riley said.

“To be recognised in this way highlights the standing and respect that we have and the leading position Jubilee has amongst the other passionate aged care services in our industry.

“I am so proud and honoured in my role of supporting our team’s work at Jubilee. I congratulate everyone on this magnificent achievement.”