Chief Executive Officer

The organisation

San Carlo Homes for the Aged is a leading aged care provider in Victoria, offering accommodation for elderly Italians in Melbourne’s northern suburbs who can no longer manage in their own homes. The facility caters to both permanent and respite clients.

Rooted in the history of the Scalabrinian Fathers’ presence in Australia since 1952, San Carlo’s development began in the mid-1970s, with the first stage opening in 1979. This 142-bed organization has since expanded to include five dementia care units, 24 high-care beds, and a 44-bed hostel.

San Carlo remains a not-for-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors, which includes two representatives of the Provincial from the Missionaries of St. Charles (Scalabrinian Fathers).

The brief

Following the retirement of the much-loved, long-standing CEO, Rhonda Joiner, the Chair of the Board, Claudio Baldi, engaged Brooker Consulting to conduct a comprehensive search and recruitment process to identify an outstanding candidate to lead San Carlo into its next chapter. The brief emphasized the need for a leader with a deep understanding of the aged care sector, exceptional leadership skills, and a commitment to San Carlo’s unique mission of serving the Italian-Australian community. The ideal candidate would possess strong financial acumen, strategic planning abilities, and a proven track record of building strong relationships with residents, families, staff, and the Board.

The process

Leveraging their extensive experience in the aged care sector, Brooker Consulting undertook a comprehensive search and selection process. This involved:

• Needs Assessment: Brooker Consulting met with the Board, staff, and residents to understand their priorities and desired qualities in the new CEO.
• Targeted Search: Brooker Consulting utilised their network and industry connections to identify potential candidates with the required skills and experience. This included targeted outreach to individuals with a proven track record in aged care leadership, particularly those with experience in culturally diverse settings.
• Advertising: The role was advertised through relevant channels to attract a broad pool of qualified applicants.
• Candidate Evaluation: Brooker Consulting conducted rigorous screening and interviewing of candidates, assessing their leadership skills, financial acumen, strategic thinking, and cultural sensitivity.
• Shortlist Presentation: Brooker Consulting presented a shortlist of highly qualified candidates to the Board for consideration.

Final Interviews: The Board conducted final interviews with the shortlisted candidates.

The outcome

Following a thorough and competitive process, the Board of San Carlo Homes for the Aged appointed Ron Hooton as the new Chief Executive Officer. Ron brought a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as the CEO of Vision Australia, a leading organization supporting people who are blind or have low vision. His extensive leadership experience in the not-for-profit sector, coupled with his deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing aged care providers, made him an ideal fit for San Carlo.