New Year, New Beginnings
and Renewing Our Care for
Older West Australians
Stephanie Buckland Chief Executive Officer, Amana Living
Each new year invites a fresh start, with new habits, revived optimism, and a resolve to live more intentionally
This year, the spirit of renewal coincides with a profound season in the calendar, the Church and a pivotal time in the aged care sector. In a moment of overlap, with Lunar New Year falling on 17 February and Lent beginning on the 18 February respectively, we find ourselves in the time of year that calls us, personally and collectively, to rearrange our lives toward love and dignity. In the same spirit, Australia’s aged care reforms invite us to reshape our system so that older people are truly at the centre.
At Amana Living our mission to, together, enable older people to maintain their individuality, providing what is needed to support a fulfilling life, aligns closely with the new rights-based approach under the Aged Care Act. The new Statement of Rights and strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards were designed to uphold choice, dignity, and person-centred care across every setting. We welcome these changes because they elevate what has long guided our organisation - to listen well, tailor care, and honour each individual holistically.
Lent provides an opportunity to take up practices that can be transformational to others such as acts of presence, service and justice. At Amana Living we see this lived out daily, from our No One Dies Alone Companion (NODAC) Program, providing companionship at life’s end, to our McCusker Nurses who stand alongside dementia carers with practical wisdom and deep empathy. With transformation often looking like ordinary kindness, faithfully offered, our chaplaincy team accompanies residents, clients and staff through change and transition, reminding us that even in times of uncertainty and periods of adjustment, love has the last word.
In 2026 our focus is to embed reform in ways that make a tangible difference from the bedside to the kitchen table. Amana Living will continue implementing the strengthened Quality Standards and advancing person-centred practices across areas that older people tell us matter the most, such as clinical care, food and nutrition, and community connection. We will guide clients and families through the Support at Home transition, advocating for timely access, while ensuring continuity of services and greater transparency around budgets and care management.
Amana Living is investing in what sustains quality, such as a well-supported workforce, purposeful technology, and environments that feel like home. From the rollout of unified care systems that streamline information for our teams, to refurbishments that create welcoming social spaces, these improvements enable our staff to spend more time on what truly counts: developing authentic relationships with clients and residents, while providing personalised care.
Yet the work of renewal is never finished. This Lent, rather than giving something up, Amana Living is taking up a shared resolution to keep listening, learning, and leading with love so that every older person is honoured and valued and the culture of our organisation is one where compassion and excellence continue to go hand in hand. May this new year, and holy season, be one where fresh starts can lead to lasting change, and dignity, choice and joy are not merely aspirations, but everyday realities in aged care.