SPEECH BY MDM RAHAYU MAHZAM, MINISTER OF STATE, MDDI, AND MOH, AT THE COMMUNITY CARE MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT AND EXCELLENCE AWARDS CEREMONY

Dr Gerard Ee, Chairman, Agency for Integrated Care (AIC)

Mr Tan Chee Wee, Chief Executive Officer, AIC

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

1.           Good morning. I have been attending this event for a few years now. It is starting to be something I really look forward to, because it is truly inspiring to meet passionate, like-minded individuals who are committed to improving the well-being of our community and advancing the Community Care sector at today’s Community Care Manpower Development and Excellence Awards Ceremony (CCMDEA).

A.    Community Care Manpower Development Awards (CCMDA)

2.           Since its introduction in 2017, the Community Care Manpower Development Awards (CCMDA) have supported the professional growth of more than 1,100 individuals, including over 160 recipients today. The CCMDA has been a key enabler in developing and strengthening our workforce, and it complements MOH’s strategies to develop care in the community.

3.           Since the launch of the National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy in 2023, MOH has continued to expand and enhance community-based services for mental health. To support this move, we need more mental health professionals. Ms. Lee Yu Jun has answered this call to action. Yu Jun is a social worker from Montfort Care’s Community Intervention Team (COMIT). Seeing the need for more mental health professionals, she took up the CCMDA last year and is now pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health and Psychotherapy at the National University of Singapore (NUS) to deepen her skills in areas such as cognitive behavioural therapy and family therapy. Beyond her own professional development, Yu Jun also supports her team’s development through clinical mentorship, training, and enhancing their therapeutic practices. She truly exemplifies the spirit of Community Care, and reflects the sector’s commitment to build mental health resilience in individuals and the society. We wish her a rewarding career as she continues to support individuals and families on their recovery journeys.

B.    Community Care Nursing Leadership Programme (CCNLP)

4.           As our population continues to age and care needs become increasingly complex, the role of nurses, especially our nursing leaders, has never been more critical. That is why the Community Care Nursing Leadership Programme (CCNLP) was established to cultivate nursing talents for leadership roles.

5.           Since its launch in 2021, CCNLP has supported 33 nursing leaders from diverse care settings, including nursing homes, community hospitals, palliative care, and centre-based care. I am pleased to share the three nurses who will be graduating from the programme this year. Congratulations to Ms Wang Meini from the National Kidney Foundation, Ms Quek Yanting from Dover Park Hospice, and Ms Liu Jianping from Econ Medicare Centre on your achievements!

6.           Our CCNLP alumni continue to lead with purpose and do us proud. Two alumni, Ms Judy Zhang and Ms Lucy Lu from the National Kidney Foundation, were recently recognised at the 16th Singapore Health Quality Service Awards and featured in The Straits Times, for their innovative work to improve overnight dialysis outcomes.

7.           Unlike daytime dialysis, overnight dialysis lasts up to seven hours during sleep, allowing for more effective toxin removal and freeing up patients’ daytime hours for other commitments. However, metal needles often shift with movement, causing discomfort, and sometimes complications, which results in 30% of patients quitting. To address this, Judy and Lucy piloted the use of flexible plastic cannulas. Results from the six-month trial were encouraging: 63% reported less pain, and 85% felt less anxious about moving during dialysis. This simple change significantly improved patient experience and outcomes.

8.           This is just one example of how our CCNLP cultivates nursing leaders who are not only clinically skilled but also deeply committed to driving innovation and meaningful change in care delivery.

C.    Community Care Excellence Awards (CCEA)

9.           As we continue to nurture the skills and leadership capabilities of our staff, it’s also essential to recognise that these efforts ultimately serve a greater purpose to improve healthcare service quality. The Community Care Excellence Awards (CCEA) celebrate individuals and teams who exemplify outstanding service and unwavering dedication in delivering quality care to clients and seniors.

10.      Since its inception in 2014, the CCEA has honoured more than 2,500 remarkable individuals and teams. This year, we are proud to present 230 awards, including 211 individual recognitions. These numbers speak volumes about the extraordinary commitment of our Community Care professionals, who work tirelessly each day to improve the well-being of those we serve.

11.      One such individual is Ms Lim Tin Tin, Acting Assistant Director of Nursing at NTUC Health. Tin Tin has shown outstanding leadership in raising the standards of care quality and safety in our nursing homes. She has led training initiatives to identify gaps and implement practical solutions, improved clinical systems, and strengthened incident reporting — all with the aim of ensuring safer, better care for our residents through proactive risk management. 

12.      Whilst we applaud and celebrate individual workers, we know that we are nothing without the team that we work with. Beyond individual achievements, the CCEA also celebrates team accomplishments in meaningful areas such as clinical quality, client experience, productivity, and digitalisation. The wide range of submissions underscores the sector’s relentless dedication to innovation and excellence, ensuring that care is not only holistic but continually evolving to meet the needs of our clients.

13.      Among the inspiring submissions we received this year is “Restoring Hearts, Renewing Hope” by St Andrew’s Nursing Home in Buangkok. This project beautifully illustrates how meaningful engagement can rekindle family connections for residents living with psychiatric and dementia-related conditions. Through a thoughtfully designed Family Day, the dedicated staff reached out to next-of-kin who had not visited in the last three months and addressed common barriers raised such as mobility challenges and conflicting work schedules making the event possible for many families. By organising meaningful activities — like shared meal experience and co-creation art wellness session — the care team encouraged more frequent visits and fostered deeper bonds between residents and their loved ones. Over 75% of participating residents and next-of-kin reported feeling closer after the programme. A word cloud generated from feedback reflected common sentiments of “connection,” “joy,” “reunion,” “together,” and “loved”.

14.      This heartwarming initiative truly exemplifies the power of compassion in providing person-centred care that leaves a deep and lasting impact on residents’ lives.

15.      As we honour our colleagues and teams, we want to also recognise the leaders who inspire and empower them to shine.

D.   Platinum Leadership Award

16.      I am pleased to introduce the inaugural Platinum Leadership Award. This prestigious award, conferred by AIC, recognises leaders who have made exceptional contributions to advancing and enhancing Community Care. It celebrates individuals whose exemplary leadership, steadfast dedication, and unwavering commitment have helped shape a stronger, more resilient sector — one that enables all Singaporeans to live and age well within the community.

17.      It is truly well-deserved that the inaugural award goes to Adjunct Associate Professor Dr Kenny Tan, CEO of St Luke’s ElderCare. He has transformed eldercare through groundbreaking innovations. One such innovation is AI-powered life story programme combined with VR reminiscence therapy, which helps seniors reflect on life milestones and create autobiographies using the AI platform MemoryLane. For example, Mdm Lian Swee Wah who is 85 years old, fulfilled her dream of becoming an author through this programme! In addition to this, he also spearheaded other pioneering efforts, including rehabilitation robotics. He also championed the Home Away from Home model, which promotes dignity in nursing homes — an inspiring testament to his deep commitment to person-centred and future-ready care. His influence extends far beyond his organisation, shaping the wider Community Care landscape through national initiatives and impactful cross-sector partnerships. Let’s once again congratulate Dr Tan!

Closing

18.      Once again, I congratulate our award recipients, and thank you for all that you do to make a difference in the lives of our clients, seniors, and the wider community.

19.      As we celebrate the remarkable achievements of our awardees, we encourage each of you to continue to be strong advocates for Community Care. Your dedication and efforts not only pave the way for your own growth, but also inspire and uplift those around you. Thank you.