“We were delighted to hear the news that Whiddon was awarded this incredible accolade,” Whiddon Group Wingham’s director care services, Leonie Burke said.

“I’m very proud to work for such a people-focused organisation. Whiddon offers valuable opportunities for employees to develop and grow in their careers. They celebrate our achievements and recognise the important role our people play in making a difference to the lives of older people in our community,” Leonie said.

The EOC accolade recognises organisations which have developed leading workplaces that maximise the full potential of their workforce through practices that demonstrate effective employee recruitment, engagement and retention.

Whiddon CEO, Mr Chris Mamarelis welcomed the award and said it reflected Whiddon’s commitment to innovation, learning and development, and positive workplace culture.

“We’re thrilled to receive this award for the second year running. It’s a fantastic achievement, of which we’re incredibly proud. We have long been acknowledged as an industry leading organisation that invests in its people. This award speaks to our continued efforts to ensure the important role our people play throughout all of our services is valued, supported and celebrated,” Mr Mamarelis said.

“As an aged care provider, our people are at the very heart of our organisation and are making a real difference in the lives of older Australians every day. Aligned to this is our strong commitment to supporting our communities. The award truly is testament to the engaging, progressive and positive work environment at Whiddon.”

The Employer of Choice Framework (EOC Framework) is utilised as a structured model of assessment that enables the participating organisations to be benchmarked against world class performance standards through a global recognition and knowledge building initiative that is underpinned by the program’s established framework.

“Innovative human resource management practices play an increasingly important role in sustaining leading edge competitiveness for organisations in times of rapid change and increased competition,” said Australian Business Awards program director, Ms Tara Johnston.

“Organisations that incorporate employer branding as an integral part of their overall business strategy will gain a competitive advantage by taking a long-term approach to investing in talent acquisition. Never has current and future talent been more important to business success than it is today,” Ms Johnston said.

The key attributes of the Employer of Choice Framework define the characteristics of well-managed, high-performing, industry leading organisations that provide a stimulating and supportive workplace.

The award celebrates Whiddon’s recognition programs, scholarship and leadership development programs, and our commitment to providing ongoing learning and growth opportunities for our employees.