Award-winning framework enhances clinical care for residents

April 17, 2025

New framework enhancing clinical care for residents wins national recognition

Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT) is proud to share that we have received the Research and Development Award at the ITAC 2025 Ageing Australia Awards for our work on an innovative clinical care initiative – HIRAID® Aged Care.

This award-winning project is focused on one important outcome: ensuring that residents receive timely, thorough and consistent clinical assessments when they’re unwell or showing signs of deterioration.

A clearer, more confident approach to care

When a resident becomes unwell, quick action and clear thinking are essential. That’s why Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT) has partnered with The University of Sydney and Western Sydney Local Health District to adapt an existing emergency nursing tool, known as HIRAID®, for use in aged care homes.

The result is HIRAID® Aged Care – Australia’s first structured, evidence-based framework for how nurses assess and respond to changes in a resident’s health. It offers a step-by-step guide that helps our nurses make confident decisions, communicate clearly, and provide high-quality care when it matters most.

What this means for residents

• Faster response: Nurses are able to recognise signs of deterioration early and take appropriate action quickly.

• Improved wellbeing: The goal is fewer unnecessary hospital visits and better health outcomes for our residents.

Already, nurses involved in the pilot are reporting that the framework has increased their confidence and supported better communication across care teams. One nurse shared:

“Day-to-day we were already doing these checks, but HIRAID® gives us the structure we needed. It’s made things clearer, and that means better outcomes for residents.”

11 homes involved in the trial – with more to come

11 Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT) homes across Sydney have been involved in the HIRAID® Aged Care trial, with dozens of nurses already completing training. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with staff rating the framework between 9.2 and 9.6 out of 10 for usefulness and preparedness.

The next step? Supporting more of our nurses across NSW and the ACT to use the framework, ensuring every resident benefits from the same high-quality clinical care.

Putting residents first

At Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT), we’re always looking for ways to enhance the care and support we provide. HIRAID® Aged Care is one example of how we’re doing just that – combining evidence-based innovation with the compassion and commitment of our people to ensure residents feel safe, supported and well cared for.

We’re proud to be leading the way in aged care innovation, and even prouder that this work is making a real difference in the lives of our residents every day.