SPEECH BY MDM RAHAYU MAHZAM, MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFORMATION & MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AT THE COMMUNITY CARE MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS CEREMONY, 7 MAY 2026

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

Mr Tan Chee Wee, Chief Executive Officer, AIC

Distinguished guests, award recipients, ladies and gentlemen,

1.       A very good afternoon to all of you. I am delighted to be here at the annual Community Care Manpower Development Awards (CCMDA) ceremony.  This year’s ceremony is especially meaningful as it is, for the first time, held alongside AIC’s Community Care Workplan Seminar. As our people play a pivotal role in powering the sector forward, it is fitting that we celebrate the achievements of the CCMDA recipients and the graduates of the Community Care Nursing Leadership Programme (CCNLP).

2.       These awardees not only represent excellence within the Community Care sector, they demonstrate unwavering commitment to serving seniors, and dedication to growing professionally in the Community Care sector.

Community Care Manpower Development Awards (CCMDA)

3.       Since its introduction in 2017, the CCMDA has remained a cornerstone of workforce development in the sector. These awards open doors for both in-service staff and new entrants, enabling them to pursue formal academic programmes, skills-based training, and clinical attachments. To date, more than 1,200 individuals have expanded their capabilities and professional growth across both clinical and non-clinical roles, through the CCMDA.

4.       To meet the growing care demand in Singapore requires a concerted effort – not only to develop our existing staff, but also to attract new talent who bring with them fresh skills, perspectives, and energy. Take 25-year-old Ms Claudia Lim for example, a CCMDA recipient who was inspired to join the Community Care sector after caring for her ailing grandmother in her final years. This August, Claudia will join St Luke’s Hospital after completing her Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT).

5.       Another CCMDA recipient, 24-year-old Ms Eunice Tan, initially considered a career in Human Resources. However, motivated by the desire to support individuals to live more independently and achieve a better quality of life, Eunice chose to enrol in SIT’s Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy programme. When she graduates in September 2029, she will be joining NTUC Health to help seniors with their recovery and reintegration into the community.

6.       I wish Claudia and Eunice all the best as they start their careers in the sector. I hope more young talents will be inspired to follow in their footsteps in enabling seniors to live well and age gracefully in the community.

7.       As we train professionals to meet the healthcare needs of a super-aged society, we must also rethink how care for seniors is planned and delivered. Today, Singaporeans are living longer, and they develop multiple health and social needs in their senior years—from mental health support and rehabilitation after illness or injury, to palliative care toward the end stage of life.

8.       Care can no longer be delivered in silos or mainly by hospitals. It must be coordinated, holistic, and close to where the seniors live. That is why we are strengthening efforts to address emerging healthcare needs through national initiatives like the Integrated Community Care Provider model, or ICCP. The ICCP will anchor health and social care services for seniors within the community and facilitate ageing-in-place with a care plan that holistically meets their needs. Instead of having to navigate multiple providers on their own, seniors can look forward to the coordinated delivery of different services.

9.       To support national initiatives such as the ICCP and the National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy, it is critical that our Community Care workforce is equipped with the capabilities required to deliver coordinated, person-centred, and community-based care. Through the CCMDA, we are seeing more Community Care workers building skills that align with this shift, including care assessment and psychosocial intervention.

10.     Two such individuals are Mr Sumilla Alvin Muleta, a staff nurse at Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, and Ms Pryiiajit Kaur Sandhu, a Case Manager at Allkin Singapore. Sumilla is currently enrolled in the Advanced Diploma in Nursing in Gerontology at Nanyang Polytechnic, where he will undergo training to better assess the complex needs of seniors, especially in the home setting. Pryiiajit, on the other hand, provides seniors with community-based social services alongside clinical mental health care. To deepen her skillset, she is pursuing a Professional Certificate in Clinical Practice and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Foundations for Adults at the National University of Singapore. This training equips her with tools to better help Singaporeans at different life stages, including seniors, build emotional resilience and navigate psychological challenges.

Community Care Nursing Leadership Programme (CCNLP)

11.     As Singapore is now a super-aged society, the role of nurses - especially our nursing leaders - has never been more critical.  CCNLP was established to nurture the next generation of nursing leaders who will help shape the future of care in the community. Since 2021, we have supported 42 talented nurses on their leadership journey, and today, we proudly celebrate nine more graduates.

12.     Among these outstanding graduates is Ms Precilla Lai from Home Nursing Foundation (HNF), one of the few Advanced Practice Nurses in the sector. At HNF, she leads Integrated Home Health services, bringing advanced clinical care directly into seniors’ homes while supporting multi-disciplinary teams in managing complex conditions. Through CCNLP, Precilla has completed various AIC Leadership Milestone Programmes, which encompass targeted learning, coaching and exposure to build leadership capabilities at different career stages. One example is the Harvard Mount Everest Leadership Simulation, which replicates high-pressure, complex operating environments to reinforce learning in a group dynamics and leadership. This experience gave Precilla a deeper appreciation for open and collaborative communication in a team and reinforced the importance of balancing diverse perspectives, strengths, and competing priorities within an organisation.

13.     The achievements of our nursing graduates, like Precilla, reflect their strong commitment to professional excellence and a shared dedication to making care better for every senior they serve. I look forward to seeing more nurses step forward as leaders, guided by purpose, compassion and vision.

Closing

14.     In closing, I would like to congratulate all of today’s awardees.  I commend you for your passion, leadership, and dedication to making exceptional contributions in the Community Care sector. Your efforts to develop yourselves inspire and uplift those around you, and I wish you continued success in your careers.

15.     Thank you.