ACH Group Executive Manager of People, Culture and Safety, Cher Lopresti, presented the organisation’s Leadership Ecosystem at the Ageing Australia State Conference in Adelaide on Wednesday 22 April.
At a time of sustained workforce pressure across aged care, the presentation highlighted how ACH Group’s deliberate investment in leadership capability is strengthening workforce engagement, retention and consistency across the organisation.
Developed in-house, ACH Group’s Leadership Model builds leadership capability at every level of the organisation and positions leadership as a core driver of workforce sustainability and quality care.
Through its focus on internal leadership development, ACH Group has achieved measurable improvements in employee engagement, retention and career progression, reinforcing the link between strong leadership and organisational performance.
Ms Lopresti said leadership capability remains one of the most important investments organisations can make to strengthen workforce sustainability.
“Effective leadership underpins a productive, resilient workforce and sets the conditions for people to perform at their best,” she said.
“When leaders are equipped with the right skills and supported to develop, it has a direct and measurable impact on employee wellbeing and organisational performance.
“Strong leadership also enables high-performing teams, which translates to better outcomes for customers.”
The Leadership Model forms the foundation of ACH Group’s leadership ecosystem and includes structured leadership induction, targeted development workshops, mentoring, leadership labs and strategic programs that enable leaders to work on real organisational challenges.
Ms Lopresti said the model reflects a shift in how organisations must respond to long-term workforce sustainability challenges.
“Investing in leadership is fundamental to strengthening our organisation and the experience of both employees and customers,” she said.
“ACH Group’s approach demonstrates how leadership development can address sector-wide challenges such as workforce attraction and retention, while reinforcing aged care as a viable and rewarding long‑term career.”
Ms Lopresti’s presentation forms part of ACH Group’s broader advocacy throughout 2026 to highlight the need for sustainable workforce solutions in aged care.
In February, ACH Group convened a cross-sector roundtable with government, education and industry stakeholders to improve support for newly graduated nurses entering aged care.
The Ageing Australia State Conference brought together industry leaders, experts and practitioners to examine the future of aged care and share innovative approaches to service delivery.