Proveda’s Employee Wellbeing Program transformed workplace culture through flexible work, wellbeing initiatives and leadership commitment, increasing staff retention from 72% to 92% while improving employee engagement, recognition and continuity of care. It was awarded Highly Commended in the 2025 Future of Ageing Awards. Results were unveiled at a presentation dinner in Sydney on November 27, 2025…To view all of the results…
For aged care providers, attracting and retaining skilled employees has become one of the sector’s greatest challenges. At Proveda, addressing this challenge meant looking inward and asking a simple question: How do we create a workplace where people genuinely want to stay?
The answer became the Employee Wellbeing Program; a comprehensive cultural transformation that has reshaped the employee experience, strengthened staff engagement and delivered measurable improvements in workforce retention
The challenge
When CEO Kaz Dawson joined Proveda in 2022, the organisation faced significant workforce challenges. Staff retention was low, employee feedback highlighted poor workplace culture, and exit interviews revealed employees often felt <a href="https://healthylife7.com/award-winning-ps5-adventure-game-under-5-on-playstation-store/” title=”Award-Winning PS5 Adventure Game Under $5 on PlayStation Store”>undervalued and disconnected from the organisation
Rather than addressing these issues with isolated initiatives, Proveda committed to a long-term strategy focused on employee wellbeing as a core business priority
The objective was clear: create a workplace where employees felt supported, recognised and valued, ultimately improving continuity of care for older people through a stable workforce
Building a culture of wellbeing
Working alongside the People and Operations team, Dawson led the development of a wellbeing strategy that embedded employee care into everyday operations
The program introduced a range of practical initiatives designed to improve both mental wellbeing and work-life balance, including:
- An annual paid wellbeing day for every employee.
- Flexible working arrangements.
- A strict “offline by 5.30 pm” policy to encourage healthy boundaries between work and personal life.
- Dedicated meeting-free time each week.
- Access to a Wellbeing Gateway App through Assure Programs, providing personalised mental health resources.
- Monthly all-team meetings featuring employee “shout-outs” to celebrate achievements and recognise colleagues.
- Regular morning teas, birthday celebrations and work anniversary recognition.
- Mental Health First Aid training for managers to better support staff wellbeing.
Importantly, the program was not viewed as a standalone HR initiative but as part of a broader organisational transformation, with leadership actively modelling the behaviours they wanted to see across the business
Leadership driving change
The Employee Wellbeing Program has been championed by CEO Kaz Dawson, supported by Lorraine Wood (Manager, People and Operations), Shani Adams (Senior Human Re and Millie Cousino (HR Coordinator)
Together, the leadership team used employee engagement surveys and exit interview data to identify key areas requiring attention, including low motivation, behaviours inconsistent with organisational values and employees feeling underappreciated
Evidence of success
Three years after launching the program, the results demonstrate the impact of investing in people
Staff retention increased dramatically from 72 per cent in FY2023–24 to 92 per cent in FY2024–25
The organisation also recorded:
- A 65 per cent increase in employees remaining with Proveda for between two and five years.
- A 200 per cent increase in employees with more than ten years’ service.
- Former employees returning to the organisation, citing the positive workplace culture as a key reason for coming back.
These improvements have translated into greater workforce stability, stronger employee engagement and improved continuity of care for clients
Recognition beyond the organisation
The transformation has also received external recognition
In 2025, Proveda received the Xref Best Workplace Award, recognising its sustained improvement in workplace culture
The organisation also achieved Suicide Prevention Accreditation, strengthening both its internal wellbeing practices and the services it provides to the community. This accreditation reinforced initiatives including the self-care policy, meeting-free time and paid wellbeing leave
Proveda’s Employee Wellbeing Program demonstrates that meaningful workforce improvement requires more than isolated wellbeing activities. It demands sustained leadership commitment, genuine employee engagement and practical policies that support people every day
By investing in its workforce, Proveda has created a workplace where employees feel recognised, supported and empowered to thrive. In turn, older Australians benefit from greater continuity of care and stronger relationships with the people supporting them.
The program illustrates how a deliberate focus on employee wellbeing can become a powerful driver of organisational performance, workforce retention and quality aged care
