The state winners have been selected in preparation for the national award in June – see the full list below.
Kara has been the Village Manager at the retirement village with more than 250 residents in Mindarie, a coastal suburb 37km north of Perth's CBD, for the past three years.
In a nomination to the Retirement Living Council (RLC) for the award, Keyton Retirement Living Regional Operations Manager, David Mooney (and National Village Manager of the Year in 2020), applauded Kara's ability to manage resources and timelines effectively, stating it is “a key factor in her success”.
“Kara’s exceptional conflict resolution skills and thorough knowledge of relevant legislation enable her to facilitate issues as needed. She handles conflicts with a calm and professional demeanour, ensuring that all parties feel heard and respected,” David said.
Kara joins DCM Institute participant Deon Moran, Village Manager of BlueCare’s Fraser Shores 1 retirement community in Hervey Bay, on Queensland’s Fraser Coast, former DCM Institute participant Melinda Akehurst, who is Community Manager at Aveo’s Bayview Gardens retirement living community in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, and Kirstie Smith, Levande Templestowe Community village manager in the running to be crowned Australia’s Village Manager of the Year at the RLC’s National Retirement Living Summit in Brisbane in June.
DCM Institute is the nation’s leading training program for retire and community managers.
