University of Wollongong and Warrigal join forces to innovate aged care sector

A partnership with the University of Wollongong to drive innovation in the aged care sector is already bearing fruit for Warrigal.

Warrigal CEO Mark Sewell said joining forces with UOW’s Faculty of Business students is helping the organisation come up with new ideas for an aged care sector which is in the midst of major change and reform.

‘’Warrigal has recognised innovation as being so critical to our future operations that we have a directorate entirely focused on it– and we are seeing some great work coming together with our new flagship Shell Cove site which is piloting new ways of delivering our services,’’ he said.

Mr Sewell said through the Innovation Intern program, business students gleaned first-hand what the aged care sector is about, as well as the challenges and opportunities the sector provided.

‘’This has led to a broader understanding of the skills and talents of our younger generation combined with the wisdom of our older generation.

‘’It’s certainly a mix we love to encourage at Warrigal,’’ he said.

The partnership has seen some impressive ideas focusing on optional service packages to offer greater choice to enhance the lifestyle and well-being of customers and a grants program to help foster a greater culture of innovation within Warrigal itself.

Innovation Intern program leader and UOW lecturer in Creating and Marketing New Products, Elias Kyriazis, said both parties benefitted from the program and partnership.

‘’I instantly recognised that I was dealing with a unique and very progressive organisation and UOW’s Innovation Interns were going to learn a great deal in a professional organisation,’’ Mr Kyriazis said.

‘’I knew it would be a challenging environment for the interns to apply their newly gained innovation knowledge in a well-supported environment led by Leanne Taylor and Shandell Renshaw.’’

The internship program was supported by Sandy Haig, Jorge Perez and the Faculty Business Internship Team led by coordinator Dr Shamika Almeida.

‘’We are thrilled to partner with UOW and progress so many of our projects contributing to best practice and innovation in the aged care sector which can only be of benefit to our older community,’’ Mr Sewell added.