Blue Haven Advisory Board to be remodelled

Kiama Council has announced the remodelling of the Blue Haven Advisory Board, effective immediately.

On Thursday 9 June 2022, four of the seven members of the Blue Haven Advisory Board – Section 355 Committee tendered their resignation. They were: Joanne Sabena, John Cleary, Richard Bailkowski and Pearl Forrester. Michael Forsyth resigned from the board on 11 May 2022. Blue Haven Board member Elizabeth Kelly did not resign. The Board also comprised Kiama Mayor Neil Reilly and Councillor Kathy Rice.

Kiama Council thanks all the Blue Haven Advisory Board members for their service during what has been a difficult period.

“As one of two Councillors on the Blue Haven Board, I know I speak for all when I say we have greatly valued everyone on the board’s contribution, intelligence and insight and it has been a great pleasure to work with them,” said Cr Neil Reilly.

“The board has helped steer Blue Haven through a challenging time for the aged care sector in general, grappling with the pandemic, staffing issues and increased regulations resulting from the Aged Care Royal Commission.”

“Blue Haven has had the added complication of Kiama Council discovering and beginning to address some of our longstanding financial issues, some of which relate to the business of Blue Haven and the build of its state-of-the-art Bonaira Residential Aged Care Facility and Independent Living Units, completed in late 2019,” Cr Reilly said.

Council is considering and will continue to explore options including the potential to remodel the Blue Haven Board as a key component of its current Audit Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC).

Our ARIC provides independent assurance and assistance on risk management, control framework, external accountability, legislative compliance, internal audit, external audit and process improvement responsibilities.

“As Council is the Approved Provider of Blue Haven’s services, it makes sense to use our preeminent committee, ARIC, to oversee Blue Haven,” said Kiama Council and Blue Haven CEO Jane Stroud.

Council’s ARIC meets next week, and a discussion paper will be presented to consider a future model that ensures Blue Haven will continue to receive the expertise and excellent advice it has become used to. The ARIC discussion paper will likely propose a model where Blue Haven’s Chief Operating Officer chairs the sub-committee and reports to ARIC and to Council.

“I want to express my appreciation to the outgoing Blue Haven board and those staying on for their expertise, dedication and hard work. In the past 12 months, we have tabled more than 85 Blue Haven Advisory board reports, totalling almost 2,000 pages, so it has been a busy and intensive role. I thank them wholeheartedly for their commitment,” said Ms Stroud.

UPDATE: Council’s ARIC met on Tuesday 14 June 2022 and resolved not to take on the oversight of Blue Haven at board-level. Council continues to work through options and we will update the community accordingly.