Since becoming Head Chef at RSL Care SA Morlancourt Ron Villanueva has transformed the dining experience into a daily highlight for residents. Driven by a deep commitment to resident-centred care, Ron ensures every meal is not only nutritious and flavoursome but tailored to each person’s tastes and dietary needs.

Ron’s personal connection with residents is at the heart of his excellence. He consistently goes above and beyond to accommodate individual preferences, even when they change frequently. For example, Nancy can often alter her food choices daily, and Ron adapts without hesitation, never stopping until she’s satisfied. His dedication to such personalised care is rare and deeply appreciated.

Presentation is another area where Ron excels. Each dish is plated with the flair and precision of a fine dining restaurant, bringing joy, dignity and anticipation to every meal. Residents regularly express delight at the taste and attention they receive.

Ron’s commitment extends to residents with complex needs. Will, who lives with severe allergies and food aversions, receives safe and enjoyable meals tailored just for him. Don, on a modified texture diet, once refused most meals – but after Ron revamped the presentation, Don began eating with enthusiasm.

Special events showcase Ron’s talent on a grander scale. His three-course Veterans’ Day lunch was so impressive one veteran said he’d gladly pay $100 for it. During Easter High Tea, Courtyard Coffee and Valentine’s Day, Ron crafts seasonal menus with flair, delighting residents and families alike.

“I wasn’t expecting to win,” Ron says of his Award. “Just the recognition of being nominated was more than enough for me, but to actually win is the icing on the cake and I am very honoured to be included in this year’s winners.”

Ron has been at Morlancourt for some 18 months, his first job in aged care. “I’ve only been in Australia for less than three years,” he tells us – “before RSL Care I worked mostly in hotels and restaurants, then I got a job as a chef in Roxby Downs before transferring to RSL Care. It’s a total contrast to a professional restaurant setting – the stress level in particular is quite different, and it’s also much more fulfilling. In a restaurant the main concern is to send out the food as quickly as we can, but in aged care we need to be much more personable and concerned about what we serve to the residents, especially the elderly, which is far more fulfilling for me personally.

“I’m lucky enough to have a great team working with me and I’m very thankful to RSL Care who have a strong ethos – I’m honoured to be working with them.”

Paola Astudillo exemplifies leadership through action, trust and a commitment to team development. Over the past four months she has stepped beyond her role as Housekeeping Team Leader at West Lakes, temporarily leading hotel services across two sites during a period of significant organisational change. This included managing staffing, compliance and operational readiness across sites of up to 168 beds. Her influence is grounded in her ability to foster a culture of excellence – setting clear expectations, mentoring peers and guiding staff through audit preparations and high pressure transitions. Her leadership has directly improved compliance outcomes and empowered staff to take pride in their roles. She demonstrates strategic thinking, resilience and a deep respect for people – earning her the confidence of staff, senior management and external assessors.

Paola’s leadership style is defined by her unwavering integrity, commitment to safety and willingness to step up when challenges arise. When a team leader abruptly exited a 168-bed site Paola didn’t hesitate to take on full leadership of the housekeeping function. Despite already managing her own team, she stabilised a demoralised workforce, introduced daily structure and role-modelled professional accountability. She took calculated risks – trialling new team structures, introducing streamlined cleaning workflows, and embedding clearer infection control measures -all without compromising safety or standards. Through open communication, ongoing feedback and fairness, she built trust and re-established a culture of accountability and team cohesion.

“It’s coming up to seven years that I’ve been working for Uniting SA so it was a wonderful surprise to win the Award,” Paola says. “My role has grown and I’ve had to take on bigger responsibilities, going from Regency Green to West Lakes which is our newer and bigger building. It has been a challenge, but I have loved the fact that there is room to grow in an industry I’m passionate about. I already had the skills because my background is in hotels, then I went into transpersonal counselling which takes a holistic approach to counselling, and now I’m using those skills in a position which enables me to better support people. It’s been a wonderful move for my career and my personal growth.”

Having settled into her new role, Paola says she is loving it. “I have a wonderful team and I make sure all my team leaders are up to date with the latest courses and training opportunities – everyone goes out of their way to make sure the homes are running smoothly. It’s a very tight team as well, which I really love – we all work together and get on. I always say to my team, we are a vital piece in the puzzle that helps create a great service to the elderly, which one day we will be ourselves.

“Winning this Award has been a highlight for me – I’m very happy to have been one of this year’s winners and I will make sure I keep doing my job to the best of my ability.”

Kylie Legin consistently delivers exceptional customer service by ensuring that every resident’s dining experience is personalized, respectful and of the highest quality. She routinely goes above and beyond to accommodate special requests and dietary restrictions, ensuring all meals are not only nutritious but also enjoyable. Her warm, empathetic communication and attention to detail have created a dining environment where residents feel valued and heard.

Kylie’s responsiveness and dedication have also led to increased resident satisfaction scores in food services at Alwyndor. She embodies IHHC values daily through her compassionate approach to both residents and staff and fosters teamwork by actively collaborating with kitchen, care and nursing teams to deliver seamless service.

Kylie treats everyone with kindness and respect, always greeting residents by name and offering genuine conversation. Her calming presence helps reduce anxiety for residents during meal times, especially for those with dementia or other cognitive challenges. She also supports her colleagues by mentoring new staff and promoting an inclusive, positive workplace culture.

“It was a total surprise to win,” Kylie says. “I was honoured at the thought of getting nominated but I think I’m still in shock at having actually won! Unfortunately I couldn’t make it to the Awards night as I had booked a trip to Melbourne six months earlier, so I just missed out on getting back in time. My manager Linda James Facetimed me on the night to show me I’d won the Award, which was lovely.

“I do love what I do and it’s very nice to be recognised for it. Alwyndor is a great place to work – everyone supports each other and I love getting to spend so much time with the residents, it’s a lot of fun with all the different personalities. The same goes for my team mates, we have a good crew behind us and Linda is an awesome boss, which really helps!”