What does an award-winning workplace look like? At Scalabrini Communities, it looks like people feeling heard, supported and connected and occasionally, the CEO taking charge of the barbecue.
Scalabrini Communities has proudly been named the winner of the 2026 Xref Engage Best Workplace Award, marking the fourth consecutive year the organisation has received this recognition.
Four years. Four wins. One incredible team.
Receiving the award for a fourth year is a rare achievement in aged care and reflects Scalabrini’s continued commitment to building a workplace where people feel valued, connected and empowered to make a difference.
Celebrating the Scalabrini way
The exciting news was shared during a Staff Appreciation BBQ at Scalabrini Chipping Norton.Aalthough this was no ordinary workplace celebration.
CEO, Richard de Haast swapped his usual responsibilities for a pair of barbecue tongs and took charge of the grill, serving lunch to staff as part of the festivities.
The team also embraced a colourful Crazy Hair Day theme, with bold hairstyles bringing even more fun and personality to the occasion. The newly received award quickly became the centre of attention, appearing in plenty of team photos and selfies throughout the day.
It was a celebration filled with laughter, connection and appreciation; a fitting reflection of the workplace culture behind the award.
More than an Award
The Xref Engage Best Workplace Awards recognise organisations that achieve outstanding levels of employee engagement and satisfaction, demonstrate strong leadership and create a positive workplace culture.
Importantly, the awards celebrate workplaces that listen to their people, give employees a voice and act on feedback to create meaningful change.
For Scalabrini, the recognition reflects the culture that team members continue to build together across the organisation.
CEO Richard de Haast said receiving the award for four consecutive years showed that Scalabrini’s focus on connection and belonging was making a genuine difference.
“Four years in a row isn’t something that happens by accident. It means the things we’ve put in place to help people feel connected and feel like they belong are actually working, year after year.We’re thrilled to be recognised again, and even more proud of what it says about the culture our team has built.”
Made Possible by Our People
This achievement belongs to every person who contributes to the Scalabrini community.
It belongs to the team members who care for and support our residents, clients and families. It belongs to those working behind the scenes, those leading teams and those who speak up, share ideas and help make Scalabrini a better place to work.
Thank you to our entire team for the kindness, dedication and energy you bring each day.
Here’s to four years of recognition and to continuing to build a workplace where everyone can feel that they truly belong.
