An expansion of ACH Group’s Sing for Joy choir program has hit the right note with judges of a major national award.
ACH Group’s Social Links team is a finalist in the Team Excellence category for the 2024 Hesta Excellence Awards.
Sing for Joy Choirs are led by experienced, professional choir directors who lead weekly rehearsals, culminating in a big annual performance.
The team has expanded its Sing for Joy choirs in the community from four to six and has established a choir in each of ACH Group’s nine residential care homes.
The expansion culminated in an electric Pure Imagination performance with more than 100 choir members performing to a sold-out audience of more than 450 at Magic Millions in Morphettville, South Australia.
ACH Group Manager of Social – Community Luisa Greco said the team was “bursting with excitement” at the nomination.
“It is just such a privilege to be recognized for making an impact in the lives of older Australians,” she said.
“Our biggest joy with our choirs is hearing people say, ‘we never thought we could’ and then going out and doing it.
“The performance that our Sing for Joy choirs delivered last year left goosebumps on everyone involved and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”
ACH Group Chief Executive Linda Feldt said she had seen firsthand the positive impact Sing for Joy choirs had.
“Our Sing for Joy choirs are universally adored across ACH Group,” Linda said.
“The Social Links team has been relentless and driven to make sure that as many of our customers and residents as possible can be a part of Sing for Joy.
“I’m so proud of the work they do and feel this nomination is so well deserved.”
The ACH Group Social Links team is one of three finalists selected from about 400 nominations from across Australia.
Winners will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday 29 August and comes with a shared prizepool of $60,000.
Ms Greco said if ACH Group was to win the prize money will be put to good use.
“If we win, the prize money will be used for the show to go on,” she said.
“It will assist to fund a Sing for Joy Choir performance in 2025 and improve access so that many more choir members can attend in person and perform in front of a live audience.”