November 2025
Message from the Director of Nursing
Dear Residents, relatives, supporters and staff,
We are delighted to welcome the commencement of the New Aged Care Act and Strengthened Aged Care Standards, effective from 1 November 2025. This marks a significant new era for aged care in Australia. As the Minister stated, “Today marks the beginning of a new era for older Australians. With these reforms, we are no longer just patching a broken system – we are fulfilling a promise to deliver dignity, choice and respect to every person who has spent their life contributing to their community and our country.
We are grateful to every older person, aged care provider, family member and advocate who helped us build this new system, and to the many nurses, care workers, administrators and families who will make it a reality. We know this is not the finish line of aged care reform, but what we deliver today is the foundation of a modern, sustainable system for generations to come.”
At Garden View, we are fully committed to embracing these reforms and ensuring we meet the Strengthened Standards. We continue to uphold the Statement of Rights, support every resident’s right to make a complaint, and ensure all staff follow the Code of Conduct for Aged Care. Together, we will continue providing safe, respectful and person-centred care.
A friendly reminder that we are inviting residents and families to join our Consumer Advisory Body Committee. This is a meaningful opportunity to have your voice heard and to contribute to ongoing improvements within our home. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact me directly at don@gardenview.org.au or 02 9632 2785.
We are also excited to host our Annual Resident Christmas Party on Wednesday, 3 December 2025, featuring entertainment, a festive buffet lunch, and a range of Christmas activities. We look forward to celebrating this special day with you.
Merry Christmas to everyone—may it be a safe, joyful and memorable season.
Warm regards,
Director of Nursing
Nicole Zhang
Garden View Aged Care
Important Update
New laws to uphold your rights in aged care
Keeping residential aged care resident safe this festive season
Meet Our Whistleblower Officer
The Taxi Service
From the Company:
13 Cabs – 📞 132 227
Wheelchair-Accessible Taxi – ☎️ (02) 8332 0200
From Individual Service:
Ray Taxi – 📱 0420 505 275
Staff Spotlight
Shining a Light on Our Admin Manager: Sengmon
As the friendly face at our reception desk, our Admin Manager plays an essential role in keeping Garden View Aged Care running smoothly. She is often the first person residents, families, staff, and visitors meet, and her warm welcome helps create a positive and supportive environment for everyone.
With excellent organisation skills and strong attention to detail, she manages daily administrative tasks, responds to enquiries, supports families, and assists the care team with important documentation and communication. Her reliability and calm approach help ensure that our front office remains efficient and resident-focused.
Sengmon is known for her kindness, patience, and willingness to go the extra mile. Whether helping a resident find information, assisting a staff member, or guiding a family through the admission process, she is always ready to help with a smile.
We are grateful for her hard work and the caring presence she brings to our Garden View community. 🌼
Ongoing Staff Training and Education
At our service, resident safety and quality care are always our top priorities. We are pleased to share some updates on recent staff training and competencies that have been completed to further strengthen the care we provide.
At our facility, we are committed to providing safe, high-quality care where everyone—residents, families, and staff—feels comfortable raising concerns.
Whistleblowing allows anyone to report serious issues confidentially and without fear of retaliation.
Staff are encouraged to continue building their clinical knowledge through the Ausmed Training Platform, which offers high-quality modules on skin integrity, pressure injury prevention, and wound care. These modules support best practice and help ensure residents receive safe, effective and evidence-based care.
All staff are required to complete the Duty of Care module to understand their responsibility to keep residents safe, prevent harm, and provide care that meets professional and legal standards.
Lifestyle and Wellbeing
🌸 A Month of Culture and Sunshine 🌸
November was a bright and joyful month for our residents, filled with colour, music, and celebration. We kicked off the month with the exciting Melbourne Cup Day, where residents gathered to watch the race, enjoy delicious catering, join fun activities, and celebrate together in great spirits.
As Christmas approaches, our residents happily joined hands to help decorate the home. From sparkling ornaments to cheerful displays, everyone enjoyed bringing the festive season to life.
Our monthly BBQ took us outdoors to the park, where residents relaxed under the sunshine, shared stories, and enjoyed the beautiful weather and tasty lunch.
This month, we also celebrated the release of the 2025 Aged Care New Standards. Residents learned more about their rights, shared their thoughts, and enjoyed activities promoting “Our Rights, Our Voice.”
Mid-month, our residents visited the local RSL to watch amazing Australian bands perform — a memorable outing filled with music and smiles.
We were also delighted to welcome our wonderful volunteers, who visited residents, performed music, and prepared small gifts. And of course, our much-loved pet therapy sessions brought comfort, joy, and warm cuddles.
November was filled with happiness, connection, and community spirit — a beautiful month for everyone at Garden View.
03/12/2025
Christmas Party
19/12/2025
Lunch at Merryland RSL
Resident Rights, Complaints Process & Whistleblower Protections
Whistleblower protections
What whistleblower protections do
Workers may be afraid of personal and financial risks by sharing information and disclosures with us. The new Act gives workers rights and protections when they make disclosures that qualify (meet the requirements) for whistleblower protection.
The rights under the new Act for disclosures include:
- Not being subject to retaliation or punishment
- Not being subject to consequences such as civil, criminal or administrative actions (legal actions) that may come up
- Choosing to be anonymous
- Confidentiality
- Being able to take legal action through the courts for compensation if you experience retaliation, punishment or consequences because you made a disclosure.
If something should happen as a result of you making a disclosure, such as being punished for speaking up, we recommend getting independent legal advice or contacting your union to understand how whistleblower protections may apply to you.
Statement of Rights
The new Aged Care Act includes a Statement of Rights, outlining the rights that older people have when accessing aged care services. The rights help to ensure that older people and their needs are at the centre of the new aged care system.
The rights outlined in the Act help to ensure that older people and their needs are at the centre of the new aged care system.
The Statement of Rights include the right for every individual to have:
- independence, autonomy, empowerment and freedom of choice
- equitable access
- quality and safe funded aged care services
- respect for privacy and information
- person-centred communication and the ability to raise issues without reprisal
- advocates, significant persons and social connections.
Providers have to ensure that their actions are consistent with the Statement of Rights. This includes ensuring that their aged care services are delivered by aged care workers who have appropriate qualifications, skills and experience.
Reminder of Consumer Rights and Service
• Senior rights service provides the legal advice, advocacy service and community engagement, for free and confident advice call, 02 9281 3600. Brochures and poster available near the small kitchenette.
• Free advocacy groups available to provide information. Pamphlet are distributing to consumer and available near the dining room information station for consumers and representatives. OPAN poster and contact details 1800 700 600 displayed on the notice board. The video of What Can OPAN help is played during the meeting. Brochures and poster available near the small kitchenette.
• Care plans are readily available for consumers.
• Reminder residents and family to seek consent from residents who have no cognitive impairment and from person responsible for those residents who are unable to give consent before taking photos and/or uploading photo to media.
Reminder of complaints process
• Consumers were reminded with the complaint and compliment process and encouraged consumers to voice for themselves.
• Reminded residents and relative the Open-Door policy of the DON.
• If you need an interpreter to speak with us, call the Translation and Interpreting Service on 131 450.
• If you cannot resolve your concern with the service provider or any serious concern, you can contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822. If you need an interpreter to speak with them, call the Translation and Interpreting Service on 131 450.
• Consumer and family are aware if they have any concerns and do not wish to speak to the Management team at site level, can directly email or handwrite letters, and someone can assist them in emailing the board@gardenview.org.au
• The Board holds a monthly gathering in the Central Garden to meet and greet residents and seek feedback and suggestions. It is usually held on the second Sunday of the month, starting at 9 a.m.
• Garden View provide protections for whistleblowers to allow reporting without fear of reprisal Whistleblower@gardenview.org.au
• Reminded consumers that OPAN is available for consumers and family, poster available on notice board.
• Consumer advisory body (CAB) member Ming He and John (Jack) Galbraith (Consumer), David Pearce, Craig Austin and Winne Steo (Representative) can be liaison representatives for consumers and relatives for any concerns or issues if they do not wish to speak to management directly. The photograph of the CAB resident members and contact details are displayed on the noticeboard. Garden View is always welcome resident and/or relative to involve and partner the care and/or committee.
Looking Back at November
As we wrap up November and step into December, we want to thank our residents, families, and staff for their continued support and involvement. November has been a month filled with connection, learning, and community spirit, and we look forward to a joyful and meaningful December together