Salisbury wins Excellence in Public Health Award
In recognition of its swift response to the COVID-19 situation last year, City of Salisbury has been awarded the Minister for Health and Wellbeing’s Excellence in Public Health Award 2021 in the metropolitan category.
The award was presented by the Minister for Public Health and Wellbeing, Hon Stephen Wade MLC and the Chief Public Health Officer SA Health, Professor Nicola Spurrier at a ceremony held last Friday to recognise the contribution made by local councils to public health throughout 2020.
The single initiative nominated by the City of Salisbury focused on how our services for older people responded following the announcement of the COVID-19 situation in March 2020. Salisbury Home and Community Services prioritised ensuring people had access to essential services, were supported to stay socially connected and were provided with SA Health advice in ways they could understand.
Mayor Gillian Aldridge OAM thanked the Minister for the award, explaining that Salisbury’s popular senior centre activities had been suspended and Home Assist services modified with the potential for leaving a number of older people stranded and isolated.
Salisbury provides vital in-home and centre based services – a lifeline for many of our senior residents who may not drive, be unable to use technology, have little family or support, or who have health conditions that make it difficult to leave their home.
From March 2020, our committed team acted rapidly to adapt programs in accordance with public health advice and keep the service running for existing customers.
I’m so pleased to recognise the efforts of our team and the community, who have worked so well together. Everyone has done their very best to follow the health advice given.