Southern Cross Care CEO Robyn Boyd resigns

Tasmania’s largest health union says the resignation of Southern Cross Care CEO Robyn Boyd is giving the troubled aged care provider a shot at renewal.

Robyn Boyd. Picture: LinkedIn

Tasmania’s largest health union says the resignation of Southern Cross Care CEO Robyn Boyd is giving the troubled aged care provider a shot at renewal.

After facing a turbulent past few years, the outgoing CEO has been thanked by the organisation for her “dedicated service”.

CFO Jara Dean will be stepping in as interim CEO.

Tasmania’s Health and Community Services Union (HACSU), a fierce long-time critic of the leadership at Southern Cross Care, said Ms Boyd’s resignation signalled a “new dawn” for the aged care provider and a chance to “restore the faith of staff”.

“We hope this will be a new dawn for SCC,” HACSU Tasmania secretary Robbie Moore said.

“Actions speak louder than words and it’s important that SCC’s new leadership try to restore the broken-down relationships between SCC management and their staff and residents,” he said.

Mr Moore said he would like to see new management conduct on-site staff and resident meetings at their nine facilities statewide and opt for greater transparency with residents and staff.

“Whoever the future leadership is, they will need to commit to a fresh new professional approach where residents and the staff who care for them are the number one priority,” he said.

Ms Boyd’s resignation comes after federal independent Member for Clark Andrew Wilkie met with Aged Care Quality Safety Commissioner Janet Anderson earlier this month to discuss “widespread” concerns among residents and their families with Southern Cross Care.

Mr Wilkie’s meeting followed a parliamentary speech in which he laid out a series of allegations about the organisation’s nine facilities across the state – home to nearly 1000 residents.

On Tuesday, Mr Wilkie said he was “pleased there was significant change at the top of the organisation”.

“No doubt Advocacy Tasmania will also be breathing a sigh of relief considering they’ve represented more than 100 residents and their families in the last 12 months alone,” he said.

“I raised a series of concerns about Southern Cross Care Tasmania’s facilities (and residents) repeatedly in the federal parliament.

“I am looking forward to working with the new CEO, and have already spoken to the acting Chair who gives me confidence that change is coming to Southern Cross Care Tasmania.”

Southern Cross Care’s acting chair Judith Fishlock said Ms Boyd had worked in the aged care sector for two decades and thanked her for her “dedicated service”.

“I would like to thank Robyn for her time with Southern Cross Care and wish her well for the

future,” Ms Fishlock said.

“Jara has been with Southern Cross Care for almost three years and has 15 years’ experience

in financial management including working in senior roles at the Tasmanian Audit Office and

accounting firms.”