Celebrating community, capturing stories and keeping connected
Celebrating community, capturing stories and keeping connected. The Strathpine Snapshot
Summer
Contents
Message from Facility Manager, Karen
3
Message from Lifestyle Coordinator, Tony
4
Community Happenings
5 - 7
Message from Clinical Care Coordinator, Trudy
8 9
Employees of the Month, Will, Tori & Babu
Chefs Corner, Wayne
10 - 11
Meet the Resident, Barbara
12 13
Quality Corner, Janet
Summer Highlights
14 - 16
Noticeboard
17
Games Corner
18 - 19
Games Corner answers
20 - 21
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Karen
Facility Manager
Over the past three months, our home has enjoyed a season of meaningful activity, positive change, and community connection.
We welcomed our new Lifestyle Coordinator, Tony Griffiths, whose background in diversional therapy, gerontology, and music therapy has already strengthened the vibrancy of our Lifestyle programs. The festive season featured special touches such as a gift wrapping service to support residents at Christmas, and ongoing sales of handmade greeting cards that help fund our Lifestyle Program. Our Australia Day raffle brought joy and participation, with staff member Wiki taking home the prize. Communication and involvement remain priorities, with Resident and Representative Meetings scheduled monthly throughout 2026 to support transparent dialogue and feedback opportunities, along with a well- attended Consumer Advisory Board meeting in February led by senior leadership. Staff recognition remains a highlight, celebrating December’s winner PCA Will and January’s winner Tori and this month RN Babu for their outstanding contributions. In maintenance, we farewelled Colin as he moved to a role closer to home and welcomed Sanjay Prasad, an experienced professional to support facility upkeep and safety standards. Dining enhancements continue, including adding our grazing fridges to remain dedicated to residents, ensuring comfort and dignity in accessing snacks throughout the day and night. Finally, the home has begun rolling out its refreshed Strathpine logo, with new uniforms and badges appearing gradually across the service. As we enter Autumn, our focus remains on strengthening social engagement, enhancing communication with families, improving our facility environment, and celebrating the community spirit that makes our home such a warm and welcoming place. Karen Facility Manager
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Message from Lifestyle Tony Hello everybody, I am privileged to have been given the opportunity to be the Lifestyle Coordinator at Strathpine Aged Care. A bit about me - I have worked in the Aged Care sector for near on 40 years. For thirty years within
Aged Care Respite Services in the community providing support and activity-based programs to older people and for the last ten years at a facility in Caboolture as Lifestyle Coordinator. My aim and philosophy are to provide a diverse range of activities for the residents of Strathpine Aged Care. Forefront to better understanding the residents’ needs within a person-centred approach, we undertook a survey to find out from the residents and families what activities they like, any suggestions and feedback to existing programs they had and any other related experiences that might enhance the program at Strathpine Aged Care. We had a great response and from the feedback and suggestions, our program will be increasing bingo an extra day, adding men’s group twice a month, we have started a Choir which will meet at least twice a month and have reached out to a Kindergarten to visit once a month for intergenerational activities. Also, we will be ensuring at least one activity a day in Petrie and increasing the length of activities for longer activity engagement, as well as developing our 1:1 lifestyle support for residents who may be more likely to experience social isolation. The Lifestyle team are always welcoming of any feedback and suggestions that will help us deliver as much diversity as possible. Till next time, keep active Tony Lifestyle Coordinator
Community Happenings Summer
Christmas Celebration December began with putting up our Christmas trees and decorations. The festive spirit took hold immediately, transforming our spaces into Christmas environments that signalled the season had truly arrived. Our Resident Christmas Lunch became the centrepiece of December. Jayde entertained us, and she’s become a crowd favourite for good reason. Her performances create exactly the atmosphere we want for celebrations. The raffle draw built anticipation throughout the meal, and lucky door prizes meant unexpected winners beyond the main raffle. When prizes were drawn, Nicola Saad won the Baby Q Weber, Ken Wakefield took home the $150 Pine Rivers Bowls Voucher, and Bernina and her husband Ray won the Christmas Hamper that Nikki Boyd had generously donated. The Christmas buffet lunch came with all the bells and trimmings. Buffet format lets us choose what we want, take as much or as little as appeals, return for seconds if desired. That autonomy matters during celebrations.
Regular Rhythms Sensory Play, Pet Therapy, and Garden Group continued. These regular activities provide consistency that balances special events. Sensory Play engages us differently than conversation-based activities. Pet Therapy brings animals into our days, offering companionship and comfort. Garden Group keeps us connected to growing things, to seasons, to outdoor work that produces visible results.
The
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Community Happenings Summer
Harp January brought something uncommon: live harp music performed beautifully in our home. Most of us hadn’t heard live harp before, or at least not in decades. The instrument’s sound fills space differently than piano or guitar. Watching someone play harp adds visual interest to auditory experience. Strings being plucked, hands moving across the instrument, the player’s concentration. It’s not every day you experience live harp music in aged care, or anywhere else for that matter. New Faces Tony joined us as our new Lifestyle Coordinator in February. New coordinators bring fresh perspectives whilst learning our preferences, our capabilities, our community dynamics. The transition period when someone new arrives requires patience from everyone whilst they find their footing.
Social Gatherings Happy Hour with Darrell gave us regular social time. Darrell knows how to facilitate these gatherings, creating atmosphere that encourages participation without forcing it. Some of us attend every Happy Hour. Others join occasionally. Both approaches work fine. Cultural Recognition Waitangi Day prompted craft activities acknowledging New Zealand’s national day. For residents with New Zealand connections, this recognition carries personal meaning. For others, it offered opportunity to learn about our closest neighbour’s history and culture.
Community Happenings Summer
Simple Pleasures Pet therapy visits continued through February. Friendly visitors spent time with us. We played bingo, which remains popular for good reason. February birthdays were celebrated, residents and staff together, acknowledging another year for each person. What Defined Summer Christmas lunch with Jayde performing and raffles being drawn. Harp music filling our home. Tony arriving to coordinate activities. Happy Hour with Darrell. Pet therapy animals. Waitangi Day crafts. Bingo games. Birthday celebrations. Sensory Play and Garden Group maintaining their rhythms. Each activity contributed to summer that moved steadily from December through February.
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Message from Clinical Care Trudy
Over the past quarter, our clinical team has continued to prioritise resident safety, wellbeing, and quality care through consistent monitoring, review, and improvement of key clinical indicators. Falls, pressure injuries, wound care, medication safety, and infection control have remained core
areas of focus. Our data shows patterns typical for the season, including minor fluctuations in fall numbers, stable low prevalence of pressure injuries, and steady wound healing progress across the home, with most wounds demonstrating improvement or complete resolution. Infection numbers have decreased in recent months, supported by timely assessment, antimicrobial stewardship, and preventative strategies. Medication management also continues to improve, with reduced incident numbers and strengthened adherence to safe administration processes. As we transition into Autumn, our clinical focus turns to proactive seasonal care. Cooler weather often brings increased risks such as skin dryness, reduced mobility, and changes in appetite, so our teams will be placing additional emphasis on hydration support, skin integrity monitoring, and early identification of respiratory illnesses. We will continue strengthening falls prevention strategies across all units, ensuring regular safety checks, clear pathways, and tailored mobility support for residents who need it. Influenza vaccination readiness remains a priority, with high uptake anticipated again this year as part of our seasonal wellness planning. We appreciate the teamwork across our nursing, lifestyle, and Physio, who all work together every day to support safe, person centred clinical care. As always, we remain committed to continuous improvement and ensuring every resident experiences comfort, dignity, and quality outcomes throughout the Autumn months ahead. Trudy Loveday Clinical Care Co-Ordinator
Will, Tori & Babu
Employees of the Month
December | PCA Will Will was recognised for being the most helpful and truly loved by our residents. His dedication and care make a real difference every day.
January | Cleaner Tori Tori was recognised for going above and beyond to support the team and for her cheerful and happy nature towards everyone.
February | RN Babu Babu was recognised for his kindness toward colleagues, genuine support for families, and consistently high standard of clinical care for our residents.
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Wayne
Chef’s Corner
Dear Residents, I would like to take a moment to say thank you for the wonderful support and feedback you continue to give to the kitchen team. It truly means a lot to us and helps guide what we create each day.
We have been busy with new menu items such as chicken noodle stir- fry, and Apricot pork. Both have been well received and are becoming a fan favorite. Next month we will be having a food tasting to showcasing our new menu items that will be introduced with residents input. Please remember we encourage input from our residents as to what new items they would like to see on the new menu.
Thanks, Wayne Head Chef
Chef’s Corner
Sausage Rolls 1kg pork mince 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 large brown onion, grated 1 large carrot, grated 1 ½ tablespoons dried Italian herb mix 1 cup panko breadcrumbs 3 eggs 3 sheets frozen ready-rolled puff pastry,
partially thawed (see tip) 1 tablespoon sesame seeds tomato sauce, to serve
1. Preheat oven to 200°C fan-forced. Grease 2 large baking trays lined with baking paper. 2. Combine oil and onion in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with a sheet of damp paper towel. Microwave for 2 minutes on High/100%. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes. 3. Combine pork mince, carrot, dried herbs, breadcrumbs, 2 eggs and cooled onion mixture in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Using clean hands, mix thoroughly until well combined. Divide pork mixture into 6 equal portions. 4. Whisk the remaining egg with a fork. Lay pastry sheets onto a work surface and cut each in half. 5. Using one portion of pork mixture, spread into a long sausage shape along the long edge of one halved pastry sheet. Brush the opposite long edge with beaten egg. Roll up pastry to enclose the pork mixture, pressing the edges together to seal. Repeat using remaining pork and pastry. 6. Brush sausage rolls with beaten egg. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and cut each into 6. Place sausage rolls, seam-side down with a little space between each one, onto the prepared trays. 7. Bake for 38-40 minutes, swapping the trays in the oven after 25 minutes, or until golden and puffed. Serve with tomato sauce. It’s easier to work with pastry when its partially thawed, just make sure it’s completely thawed before you start cooking. The sausage rolls freeze well, cooked or uncooked in airtight containers or bags, for up to 3 months.
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Meet the Resident
Barbara
Can you tell us a little about where you grew up? I grew up on a farm in northern Newcastle. What are some of your fondest childhood memories? Some of my fondest memories are running around with the animals on the farm. My favourites were the pigs and the horses. What kinds of work or hobbies have you enjoyed throughout your life? I liked to help Mum with my four younger siblings but also enjoyed sewing and knitting. What is a book, movie, or song that has made a big impact on you? Many books, movies and songs have influenced me in different ways in my life. Do you have a favourite place you’ve travelled to or lived in? I would have loved to travel but unfortunately finances never allowed it. Who has influenced your life the most? My grandmother was the matriarch of my family and I always admired her. What is something that always makes you smile? Babies laughing brings me great joy and I also loved caring for children. What has been your proudest achievement? My proudest achievement was surviving a car accident, though I wished it never happened, as it changed my life.
Quality Corner
Janet
Influenza Vaccines Influenza (flu) is a common viral illness that affects people of all ages. While symptoms may be mild for some, influenza can cause serious illness and may lead to hospitalisation—even in otherwise healthy people.
The safest and most effective way to protect yourself and others is to receive an influenza vaccination each year from a health professional. The flu virus changes regularly, so the vaccine is updated annually, which is why yearly vaccination is important. The type of vaccine recommended depends on your age and health needs, and your GP can advise which option is right for you. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone aged six months and over. Receiving a vaccination not only helps protect you—it also helps protect your family, friends, and the wider community. For more information on vaccinations, please see a friendly member of the care team. Do you know about PainChek? Within our homes, we use the PainChek system, a clinically validated digital pain assessment tool. Using AI technology to support a modern pain assessment framework PainChek will identify the presence of pain even when it’s not obvious. PainChek is fast and easy to use. Using a smart device, the device’s camera looks at the person’s face then analyses the images using AI driven facial recognition. PainChek analyses facial expressions and facial muscle movements in real time and combines this information with observations of behaviour, body movements, and vocalisations to generate an objective pain score. This information calculates an overall pain score and stores the result. This outcome forms the evidence base supporting the implementation of pain management interventions, and for the ongoing monitoring of their effectiveness over time. This approach supports the early identification of pain, more consistent assessments, and improved pain management. By enabling accurate and timely pain recognition, PainChek helps care teams deliver safer, more consistent, and person‑centred care. All assessments are stored securely, allowing for trend monitoring and shared clinical insights to support ongoing care planning. Kind regards, Janet State Quality Manager
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Summer Highlights December 2025 We put up our Christmas trees and decorations, getting everyone into the festive spirit. Our activities included Sensory Play, Pet Therapy, and Garden Group throughout the month. Our Resident Christmas Lunch was a wonderful celebration filled with entertainment by Jayde, a crowd favourite. We had a raffle draw, lucky door prizes, and a delicious Christmas buffet lunch with all the bells and trimmings. The raffle winners were Nicola who won the Baby Q Weber, Ken who won the $150 Pine Rivers Bowls Voucher, and Bernina and her husband Ray who won the Christmas Hamper donated by Nikki Boyd.
Summer Highlights
January 2026
January was a lovely, relaxed start to the new year. We eased back into things with visits from our community group friends, including seeing and having cuddles with “ Rosie” the adorable border collie. We spent time listening to the exceptional sound of a harp being played beautifully in our home. It’s not every day you get to experience live harp music, and we thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful activity. We also picked up the paintbrushes and spent some time creating together, which as always was a wonderful way to share a few quiet, happy hours with good friends.
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Summer Highlights February 2026 We welcomed Tony, our new Lifestyle Coordinator, to the team. Happy Hour with Darrell brought us together for social time, and we created craft projects on Waitangi Day. Bingo sessions and pet therapy visits were highlights we thoroughly enjoyed. A friendly visitor spent time with us, and we celebrated February birthdays together.
Noticeboard
In Memoriam We offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of our late residents. Every cherished member of our community who leaves us, is sadly missed and fondly remembered.
A very warm welcome to our new residents. Edward K Eileen D
Pet Therapy Cuddles with “ Rosie” the adorable border collie – fortnightly
Patricia B Bernina K
Music Therapy Grace and her team visits monthly.
Physiotherapy We have an excellent physiotherapy team on site. If you would like to book in to see one of the lovely physios, please ask a friendly staff member at reception.
Hairdresser Visits Available every Monday from 9:00 AM (except public holidays).
Baptist Church Services Held fortnightly on
Entertainers Fortnightly entertainment
Thursdays at 11:30AM.
We are here for you If you’d like more information on the above services, please contact the lifestyle team.
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Games Corner 1
Games Corner 2
19
Games Corner Answers 1
Games Corner Answers 2
21
Stay tuned for Autumn
Thank you We would like to issue a heartfelt thank you to relatives and volunteers who support us day in and day out. You make such a difference and we very much appreciate your time and energy. Can you contribute? Contributions to our newsletter are encouaged and appreciated. Articles, photos, reports on community outings, staff news, trivia, poems and stories relating to residents and staff are most welcome. Please hand in your submission to reception.
5 Bland Street, Strathpine QLD 4500 07 2000 8500 strathpineagedcare.com.au
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