Lifeview has been recognised as a finalist in four categories at this year’s prestigious Future of Ageing Awards.
Now in their seventh year, the awards shine a spotlight on the innovation and dedication driving the aged care sector forward.
Lifeview is in the running for:
“To be named a finalist in four Future of Ageing Awards categories is a wonderful acknowledgment of the innovative work our team is doing every day,” Lifeview CEO Samantha Jewell said.
Winners and Highly Commended will be announced at the Future of Ageing Awards Gala Dinner at Sydney’s Dockside Darling Harbour on Thursday, November 27.
Learn more about Lifeview’s Future of Ageing Awards Finalists:
Chef’s Table is an exclusive and intimate fine dining experience that goes beyond a traditional dining room setting.
Held three times a year and operated internally at all Lifeview homes, Chef’s Table rewards six selected residents with an immersive culinary journey, offering a direct connection between the residents and the hospitality team.
Residents enjoy a curated three-course menu that showcases seasonal local produce, accompanied by cocktails, wines and other beverages.
With a focus on an exquisite culinary experience, Chef’s Table is a special occasion for attendees and something they can talk about and look forward to.
An idea from Hospitality Services Manager Roque Ferrao, the quarterly Chef’s Tables are an opportunity for those attending to dress up, socialise with staff and fellow residents, and feel like they are at a special restaurant.
This can restore normalcy for many residents, for whom dining out has been a regular part of their life.
Staff consistently report that residents leave the Chef’s Table events energised, engaged, and eager to share the experience with others.
Allison, Social Support Coordinator at Lifeview Argyle Court, reported that residents were happy to receive their invitations, saying it made them feel special.
“This lunch had a hugely positive impact on the residents after the lunch. Some of them talked about it to others afterwards, about how nice it was and the effort that was made for them,” she said.
One Residential Manager, Jess at Lifeview Willow Wood, said the Chef’s Table event reignited a love for cooking for one resident, Lynette.
“She now runs her own cooking classes for residents; she fancies herself a bit of a chef. She went to the first Chef’s Table and loved it, raved about it and talked about it. It reminded her of how she made a Country Women’s Association Cookbook, and that is what inspired her to start doing it each week for residents. I know one week they made her ‘famous lasagna’,” Jess said.
The Reilly Art Prize is an innovative inter-generational art program and competition, designed to create special bonds between local secondary school aged art students and aged care residents living at Lifeview.
The program was introduced in 2024 and proved life-changing for the 11 students and 11 Lifeview residents involved.
Lifeview has long been a believer in inter-generational programs in aged care and embracing innovation. This is driven from the top down by Lifeview Director Peter Reilly OAM and CEO Samantha Jewell, who encourage the team to “think big” and to deliver programs that go above and beyond what would usually be seen in aged care settings.
It is also well known that Reilly is a passionate supporter of the arts and a firm believer in programs and activities that engage residents in unique and special ways.
Participants quickly struck strong bonds, extending beyond the portraits themselves, sharing stories and building intergenerational friendships that became the highlight of their weeks.
All residents involved had their days brightened when they received visits from the students. And the residents absolutely beamed when looking at the students’ finished portraits at the exhibition.
The students spoke about the bond they had all developed with their portrait “sitter”, describing the Reilly Art Prize as a special project which they will always cherish.
“I thought it was wonderful getting to know Luka … and the portrait here, it’s just great, isn’t it?” resident Doug said.
“I’ve had a great time, and (Luka) is so clever to have drawn this piece.”
Reilly Art Prize judge, artist Robert Lee, said: “It’s wonderful to see so much creativity from the young artists and their engagement with the sitter, it really comes out in their portraits … It brought great joy to the students and to the sitters.”
The Re-Cycle program designed by Lifeview sees residents repair and restore second-hand bicycles for eventual donation back into the local community for those in need.
Re-Cycle was established so that male Lifeview residents of all abilities could get hands-on and feel like they are making a difference in their local community – as residents often ask, “What can I do to contribute to the community?”
The program also acts as a recurring social gathering for the gentlemen.
Many of the male residents have experience as handymen or in the shed repairing things before moving into aged care, and why should that stop?
The program has been enormously successful since its launch in early 2024 and was expanded to a second Lifeview home in 2025.
The feedback from residents during Re-Cycle sessions tells a wonderful story about how much the gentlemen attending benefit from the program. They tell stories about repairing bicycles and working on other projects in their younger days and are thrilled to be hands-on again.
“In addition to the great work they are doing on the bikes, the men are just enjoying the sessions to get together and have a chat as much as anything else, which is great to see and very rewarding,” the team said.
David, a resident at Lifeview Argyle Court, has been attending Re-Cycle sessions since the start. He looks forward to it every fortnight and feels it is more valuable to his health and wellbeing than some may think.
“Sometimes people in places like this perhaps used to retire and sit around and do nothing,” he said.
“But now, with these programs, you’re keeping people active and engaged. Mentally and physically to keep doing things is much better for people. I find it very important. If you sit around and do nothing, and TV's not worth watching nowadays, these programs are very important. It keeps us interested.”
When residents saw photos of children riding the donated bikes, the impact of their work was clear. “That is very special,” said Geoff. “To see where the bikes go and how much they’re enjoyed – I’ll cherish that picture.”
The Embrace trial transformed dementia care across Lifeview homes by reducing unnecessary medications and boosting staff confidence through education.
Led by embedded pharmacist Linda Ha – recently awarded a PSA Victorian Pharmacy Medal – the initiative reduced reliance on psychotropic drugs and significantly improved residents’ quality of life.
Ha was one of five medal winners at this year’s Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) Victorian Pharmacy Awards for her work after being nominated by Monash researchers.
Dementia medication and treatment are a fluid process, where constant monitoring and adjustments are required to obtain the best outcomes for patients.
By creating a system that better serves residents in our homes, Ha and the wider Lifeview team worked together to reduce the use of medication where it was not needed.
About Lifeview
Lifeview delivers innovative, award-winning care and wellness through four homes in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs. With a model that is a world away from the “traditional nursing home model”, Lifeview residents are afforded an industry-leading social and lifestyle program, exceptional care and wellness, and delicious and nutritious meals prepared by qualified chefs. Lifeview is proudly pet-friendly, with residents encouraged to bring their beloved pets into the home when they join the community. As a proudly Rainbow Tick accredited organisation, Lifeview is inclusive and welcoming. Learn more about the Lifeview difference at www.lifeview.com.au
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Media enquiries: cwinnell@lifeview.com.au
