NewDirection Care Bellmere made history last night by becoming the first organisation to win two awards in the same year at the prestigious 2021 innovAGEING National Awards.

A small community in Bellmere, just north of Brisbane, is turning the traditional aged care model on its head, providing a sense of independence, engagement and normalcy to its 120 residents, many of whom live with cognitive impairment such as dementia.

For the residents at NewDirection Care, as well as for Natasha Chadwick and her staff, 2020 proved to be one the most challenging years they have ever experienced. The COVID-19 pandemic, which so devastated aged care communities in other states, also brought restrictions and difficulties to their aged care facility based in Bellmere, Queensland.

Creating a solid set of values is a good foundation for a better business and for better outcomes in the Australian Age Care sector, says NewDirection Care CEO and founder Natasha Chadwick.

Natasha Chadwick has the rungs on the innovation and enterprise board – the only Royal Commission witness across 20 months who had invested their own money into a totally new living and care model.