Announcing Our Inaugural Recipient: Gabby Summerhays
Meals on Wheels NSW has announced the recipient of its Les MacDonald International Learning Scholarship, marking the first award of the scholarship since the retirement of long-serving sector leader Les MacDonald.
The scholarship honours Les MacDonald’s legacy of leadership, innovation and commitment in the care sector, and supports the next generation of leaders to bring new ideas and global insights back to the Meals on Wheels network.
This year’s recipient, Gabrielle Summerhays, Community Care Manager at City of Parramatta, will travel to the Netherlands to explore innovative, community-based aged care and meal delivery models.
The Netherlands is internationally recognised for its progressive and integrated approach to ageing, community care and service delivery. Ms Summerhays’ study will focus on identifying evidence-based approaches that can be adapted to strengthen Meals on Wheels services across NSW, particularly as the sector navigates significant reform.
“This is an incredible opportunity to learn from global leaders in community care and explore new ways of supporting people to remain independent and connected at home. There are 40 volunteers and about 140 Meals on Wheels recipients in our City so I’m looking forward to bringing back practical ideas that can be applied locally to improve outcomes for both services and the people we support.” said Gabrielle Summerhays.
The Les MacDonald International Learning Scholarship was established by Meals on Wheels NSW, peak body for Meals on Wheels and other community food services, to support professional development, encourage innovation, and enable knowledge exchange across the Meals on Wheels network.
It provides an annual opportunity for a Meals on Wheels service leader to undertake an international study visit, with a clear focus on bringing back insights that can be shared and applied across the sector.
“As a peak body, our role is to strengthen the capability of the entire network. This scholarship is about actively seeking out global best practice and ensuring those learnings are shared, translated and embedded across our member services,” said Claudia Odello, CEO, Meals on Wheels NSW.
Claudia Odello, CEO Meals on Wheels NSWAt a time of significant reform, we need to be looking outward, learning from others, and bringing back ideas that will help our sector adapt and thrive.
Meals on Wheels NSW has designed the scholarship to ensure a ripple effect across the network, with structured knowledge sharing built into the program.
Recipients are required to deliver a written report with key insights and recommendations, present learnings to the Meals on Wheels network and share experiences through blogs, presentations and sector forums.
“What makes this scholarship so powerful is its reach. The knowledge gained doesn’t sit with one individual, it is shared across the network to drive innovation, strengthen services and support better outcomes for older Australians.” said Carolyn McColl, Chairperson, Meals on Wheels NSW.
With the aged care sector undergoing significant transformation, Meals on Wheels NSW says investing in leadership and capability is critical.
Ms Summerhays brings extensive experience in community care, including leading aged care and disability services, implementing reform, and working across complex service environments.
The scholarship reflects Meals on Wheels NSW’s commitment to honouring Les MacDonald’s legacy by investing in future leaders and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
“This is about building on a strong foundation and ensuring our sector continues to evolve. By investing in people and global learning, we are helping to future-proof Meals on Wheels services and ensure they remain strong, sustainable and responsive to community needs” said Ms Odello.
