On Mercy Day 2021, we celebrate our team and the people we support

Once a year, the entire workforce of Mercy Community has the opportunity to stop, reflect, and enjoy some time together as we celebrate Mercy Day. With our team located far and wide, and busy supporting people in a variety of ways, we get together in between shifts and in our local groups … but we still all stop, as one, and celebrate our special day.

24 September is the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy and is celebrated all around the world. It is the anniversary of the day on which our founder, Catherine McAuley of the Sisters of Mercy, established the House of Mercy in Baggot Street, Dublin in 1827.

Today we ‘downed tools’ and gathered together to reflect on this day and acknowledge our incredible team, who work so hard for the people we support.

Prior to Mercy Day, we invite all team members to nominate colleagues who go above and beyond.

Mercy Moments

 ‘Mercy Moments’ Awards are best described as actions by our team members that go above and beyond what is expected of them as they go about their daily work. These actions may be significant or even simple, small acts of ‘mercy’ that have a powerful and positive impact on the life of an individual, a Mercy Community team or people we support.

Years of service

On Mercy Day we also commemorate years of service. Mercy Community team members who have achieved from five years to 30+ years of service are honoured every year during our Mercy Day celebrations. 

Our years of service awards are a special token of appreciation for the role our employees have played and their ongoing commitment to serving our community through the mission and values of Mercy Community.

This Mercy Day, we acknowledge Jo Moran from the Cookery Nook and Barbara Zimmerlie from the New Families Program for 15 years of service at Mercy Community. Congratulations to you both.

Living the Values

The Living our Values award acknowledges and celebrates our team members who through their work demonstrate the mission and values of Mercy Community. Their actions have resulted in improved outcomes for the people we support, other team members, our stakeholders or community members. Whether it’s their attitude or behaviour, they inspire others and embrace our values of mercy, acceptance, excellence, dignity, empowerment and integrity—all of which enables us to provide the best possible support to the people we support across our services and programs.

Winner – Maree Hodgson (NDIS, Cairns)

Maree is the office coordinator for the NDIS team up in Cairns and was nominated multiple times, with more than one person acknowledging Maree’s empathy and how she makes everyone in that office feel so welcome. Well done Maree.

Sr Christina White Outstanding Service

Outstanding service can come in a variety of forms. This award recognises ‘above and beyond’ dedication and initiative exhibited by an employee who has delivered exceptional service (either internal or external) to enhance the Mercy Community experience for the people we support.

Winner – Sonia Starr, Residential Care and Transition Services (RCaTS) worker, Brisbane

Sonia is an area coordinator in our RCaTS team. The kids love Sonia, the team loves Sonia, and what shone through on Sonia’s nominations was widespread appreciation of the support and recognition she gives to all the people she works with. Amazing work Sonia, thank you.

Better Every Day

Recognises an employee who used creativity to develop new or improved processes, methods, systems, or services that ultimately allowed for inspired and improved outcomes for our staff and/or the people we support.

Winner – Tori Kennedy, Senior Residential Care and Transition Services (RCaTS) worker, Brisbane

The reason Tori won this award is because of the real difference she’s making in the lives of the young people in residential care. She uses art, in particular, to help make their lives better, every single day. Congratulations Tori.

Outstanding Volunteer

This award recognises and honours a volunteer who has passionately and selflessly made an extraordinary contribution at Mercy Community to support people in our care through their volunteering services.

Winner – Patti McCourt, Aged Care Services

Patti has been lifting the spirits of residents here at our Nudgee Residential Aged Care for more than 14 years, with her wonderful piano playing.

Towards Reconciliation

Recognises an individual, team or group for their active work with, or on behalf of, First Nations organisations or groups.This award is open to all Mercy Community team members. It acknowledges outstanding achievement in building cultural safety and sensitivity in the delivery of our services to First Nations peoples and communities.The award recognises the relationship, respect and opportunity the nominee(s) brings to the community, stakeholders and organisations in our reconciliation journey.

Winner – Laurie Stewart, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Regional Cultural Lead, Toowoomba

Laurie’s work in Toowoomba is making an incredible difference in the lives of the people we support up there, every day—in particular his work with Kinship Mapping. Congratulations on your award and thank you for the outstanding and important work you do Laurie.

Deadly Achievement Award

Recognises outstanding achievement by a First Nations employee in the advancement of Reconciliation. This Award recognises and honours the nominee’s cultural advocacy and inspirational commitment to Reconciliation in their role at Mercy Community.

Winner – Lee Atkinson & Shauna Lawton, Team Leader and Support Coordinator, NDIS Gladstone

Lee and Shauna have done an incredible job delivering culturally safe services to the people of Woorabinda and are making a massive difference within that community. Congratulations to you both, and thank you.

As well as these exceptional winners, we had over 180 nominations this year and a staggering number of Honourable Mentions. Thank you to everyone for making this Mercy Day one to remember.