Latest news with #AlbanyChamberof
West Australian
30-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
IN PICTURES: ACCI hosts monthly sundowner at Clarence Estate Residential Aged Care and Home Care
Albany's business community brought its regular meet-and-greet to an aged care home this month, with Clarence Estate putting on a spread for the attendees. The Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted its monthly sundowner at Clarence Estate Residential Aged Care and Home Care last Thursday. The crowd of about 70 heard from Clarence Estate's relationship manager Vanessa Hillerman and home care manager Megan Downes who talked about how they deliver care to their residents and the history of their building, including its recent refurbishment following a flood. 'We have a fantastic team of therapy assistants who run an awesome monthly activity programme,' Ms Hillerman said. 'From art and craft, gardening, music, exercise or celebrating birthdays, football grand finals or hosting Christmas dinners, bus outings, movie nights — you name it, we can do it.' In-house chef Glenn Henderson and his team served a selection of dishes, including spinach and feta filo parcels, curry, and fish and chips in a cone, as well as three desserts.
West Australian
13-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Skylar Early Learning owner Jo Talmage offers her secret to business success at 2025 ACCI Leadership Forum
The owner of a childcare business who tripled her revenue and expanded to four centres in two years explained the secret to her success at a business event in Albany last week. Skylar Early Learning owner Jo Talmage spoke about revenue and resilience at the Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry Leadership Forum last Wednesday. The businesswoman, mother and foster parent used the child psychology theory of attachment to explain how resilient companies are like securely attached children. 'A resilient, securely attached business is one where staff know that their leadership is going to show up for them, that teams will be trusted and that they're psychologically safe, that mistakes will be repaired and not punished, and that people feel like they're a part of something that's bigger than profit,' she said. 'In these environments, people take risks. 'They stay at the companies longer, they speak up and they lift each other. 'That's not just resilience, it's retention, it's innovation and it's culture.' Ms Talmage opened her first childcare centre in Albany 2023 and turned over $600,000 in revenue in her first year. She has since opened centres in Bremer Bay and Mt Barker and is set to open her fourth in Centennial Park later this year. She now reports an almost $2 million yearly revenue. 'We did what it takes to scale our business based on one belief that when children and families are supported by high-quality early childhood education care, whole communities are shaped and that if we put wellbeing and relationships first, everything else will follow — and it has,' she said. 'But what inspires me about Skylar Early Learning the most isn't the numbers, although I'm proud of those. 'It's when a parent tells me their child feels safe. 'It's when team members tell me they've never been felt more supported. 'And it's when I see our values not just written on a wall but lived in our centres, and that's why we're here.' Ms Talmage was one of six speakers at the annual ACCI event.
