New Zealand's High Commissioner praises Ryman

New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Australia Dame Annette King says Ryman Healthcare’s continuum of care model is meeting the previously unmet needs of Australians wanting to age in place with quality care.

Dame Annette was joined by First Secretary Matt de Witt and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Regional Director for Australia Pacific Glen Murphy on a tour of Ryman’s John Flynn Retirement Village in Burwood East last week.

The former deputy leader of the New Zealand Labour Party and Minister of Health first became familiar with Ryman’s pioneering model of care as an MP, with Ryman’s Rita Angus Retirement Village in Wellington, part of her Rongotai electorate.

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“It is a model of care that I really support,” she said.

While continuum care - offering independent living, assisted living and aged care within one village - was commonplace in New Zealand, Ryman’s offering in Australia was unique.

“I think that people want to be able to age in place, and that when they do have to leave the home that they would like to stay in for as long as possible, they want to go somewhere where they know there is quality,” Dame Annette said.

“That includes quality of care, quality of facilities and to be able to carry on life very much as it was before with friends and family.

“Ryman’s continuum of care model provides that, which is why I think it is going down so well in Australia, because it is new.”

John Flynn was the first Ryman village Dame Annette had visited in Australia.

Village manager Roslyn Prentice led the delegation on a tour of the village before they joined independent residents for happy hour.

“Looking around here there is a real buzz,” Dame Annette said.

“We’ve been to the swimming pool, there is a bowling green, there are gardens and places to walk.

“These are important things.”

In September, Dame Annette launched Ryman’s aged care policy discussion paper which lays out a blueprint for addressing Australia’s aged care crisis.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE DISCUSSION DOCUMENT

Dame Annette King speaks at Ryman's policy discussion paper launch in Melbourne.

In her foreword she said the continuum of care model addressed the financial viability of aged care and the quality of care delivered to residents.

“As Ryman is demonstrating in its villages in Victoria as well as back home in New Zealand, the continuum of care model facilitates investment in the high-quality aged care that older people need and deserve,” she said.