Changing of the guard at Whiddon Group Grafton

The Whiddon Group Grafton’s ‘A Team’ has been separated after both women received promotions at the end of last year.

A-TEAM: Sandra Osborne, new director of care services, with Mary Griffin, regional manager Northern Area Whiddon group, walk down the halls of Whiddon Group Grafton. Picture: Adam Hourigan

WITH about 60 years of combined industry experience, the Whiddon Group's Mary Griffin and Sandra Osborne make a formidable partnership for aged care in the Clarence Valley.

But the Whiddon Group Grafton's 'A Team' has been separated after both women received promotions at the end of last year.

In what the Whiddon Group has described as "very deserving" promotions Ms Griffin has taken over a newly created regional manager's role while Ms Osborne has stepped up to become Whiddon Group Grafton's Director of Care Services.

Ms Griffin was the Director of Care Services at the Grafton facility for the past seven years and has seen many changes in the sector in that time.

"I have enjoyed the challenges and changes in aged care," she said. "That is what I love about working in aged care - it is a constantly evolving industry.

"You have the option of being innovative and thinking outside of the square."

Ms Griffin's new role will see her support nine sites in the Northern NSW region from Wingham and Laurieton to Narrabri and Maclean.

"In this role I will have less direct contact with our residents at each site which will be something I will miss," she said.

"But I feel that the role will give me other benefits and opportunities such as meeting our diverse and dedicated staff across the region."

Ms Osborne said that while Ms Griffin will be sorely missed from the Grafton facility her knowledge in the aged care field will be a fantastic resource.

"Mary has a wealth of knowledge that the Whiddon Group is lucky to be able to utilise," Ms Osborne said.

"To know that Mary will be in this role as a support officer for the Northern Region makes me feel very comfortable stepping into my own new role."

Ms Osborne has been with the Whiddon Group Grafton facility for almost three decades and has seen a range of personal and professional growth in that time. "I was born and bred in Grafton but left for two years to attend college in Brisbane," Ms Osborne said. "But it was not long before I was back in my home town working as an enrolled nurse here.

"In 2008 I was awarded a scholarship through the Whiddon Group to attend university at Charles Darwin to become a registered nurse."

Ms Osborne said she was driven by the relationship and bonds formed with her clients and continuing those bonds would be a focus in her new role.

"The clients would have to be the number one reason why I have dedicated so many years to this industry," she said.

"To know that you can make a difference in their lives is something special. I do try to have a lot of contact with the clients and will have an open door policy in my role.

"I am very lucky to work in a company that supports me, and in a role where we can make a difference in our clients' lives. What Whiddon Group look at is the potential to grow later in life."

Ms Osborne assumed the leadership of the Grafton facility during a great time of change with the facility upgrades well under way.

"It is an exciting time for us here," she said. "We expect stage one of the new development to be completed in about June this year."

Originally published as Changing of the guard at Whiddon Group Grafton