Frontier Services is delighted to welcome Robyn Simpson as its new Regional Manager in the NT. Robyn will be responsible for the organisation’s network of aged and community care services across the Territory and Northwest WA.

New NT Regional Manager Robyn Simpson with Finance and Administration Manager Stephen Reddish in the National Office last week.Ms Simpson comes to Frontier Services from the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) in Darwin where she has performed a variety of roles. She also brings extensive experience in not-for-profit aged care, particularly with BlueCare, which is part of UnitingCare Queensland

“I feel at home coming to Frontier Services in an environment where the focus is giving back to people,” said Ms Simpson. “I look forward to working with the staff and learning how things work on the ground for our services. In particular, I am hopeful we can meet the challenges of the aged care reforms while still maintaining the close association Frontier Services has with the community.”

Ms Simpson said she had always appreciated Frontier Services’ ‘can do’ attitude towards the delivery of care in remote places and said this was something she would strive hard to maintain.

“That’s something I’ve always admired about the Frontier Services staff. They are so committed to the people they work with, it is not about 8-4 or Monday to Friday, it’s a commitment they bring with them every day.”

Ms Simpson is no stranger to the bush. She grew up on a dairy farm in rural Victoria in a Presbyterian family. Her father was a lay preacher while her mum played the organ for a variety of churches.

After completing boarding school in Melbourne, she began her working career as a dental nurse before training as an enrolled nurse. She started in aged care with Wesley City Mission, before spending time in child care. Ms Simpson moved to Queensland in 1996 where she spent nine years with BlueCare. She began as a carer with Community Aged Care Packages and worked her way up to South West Queensland Regional Manager. She was also the Chairperson of the Allora and District Hospital Cooperatives Society. In 2007, she moved to Darwin and began with DoHA. Her most recent position was Acting Assistant Territory Manager. In the past six years her roles have included Alice Springs Regional Manager, Corporate Services Manager and Quality Reviewer with the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care program.

Ms Simpson will take over from Sharon Davis who retires as the NT Regional Manager in May after 20 years with Frontier Services. Sharon has made an enormous contribution to the organisation and to aged care in remote Australia.