Carer Awards 2026

Celebrating Our 2026 Affinity Plus Carer Award Winners

At Affinity Plus, our annual Carer Awards are one of the highlights of our year. They give us the opportunity to pause, reflect and celebrate the incredible individuals who make such a positive difference in the lives of our clients every single day.

Choosing our winners is never easy. Every member of our team goes above and beyond to deliver compassionate, person-centred care, and every one of them deserves recognition for the kindness, dedication and professionalism they show within our community.

This year's awards were especially meaningful as we celebrated alongside our 5th birthday – a reminder of how fortunate we are to have built such an exceptional team over the past five years.

Carer of the Year – Louise Hanrahan

Our Carer of the Year award was presented to Louise Hanrahan.

Louise recently finished her role as a Care Assistant as she begins an exciting new chapter in her career as an Occupational Therapist. While we are incredibly sad to see her leave the Affinity Plus family, we couldn't be prouder of everything she has achieved and wish her every success in this next step.

Louise received an outstanding number of nominations from both clients and her fellow carers, a true reflection of the impact she has made during her time with us. Her compassion, professionalism and genuine care for others have touched the lives of so many people.

Louise, thank you for everything you have given to Affinity Plus. You have left a lasting impression on your colleagues, clients and their families, and although you will be greatly missed, we have no doubt you will excel as an Occupational Therapist.

From everyone at Affinity Plus, thank you and the very best of luck for the future.

Celebrating Our Award Winners

Our Carer Awards recognise the many qualities that make outstanding care possible. From those who brighten every day with kindness to those who quietly go above and beyond behind the scenes, each award represents the values that define Affinity Plus.

This year's award categories included:

• Rising Star Award – recognising someone who has shown exceptional potential, enthusiasm and commitment early in their journey with Affinity Plus.

• Legacy Award – celebrating a team member whose loyalty and dedication have helped shape our organisation over the years. This year's recipient, Deirdre, has been with us since the very first day Affinity Plus opened its doors in 2021, making her our longest-serving member of staff.

• Heart of Gold Award – recognising someone whose kindness, compassion and genuine care leave a lasting impact on everyone they meet.

• Extra Mile Award – celebrating someone who consistently goes above and beyond for clients, families and colleagues.

• Team Spirit Award – recognising an individual who supports, encourages and uplifts those around them, making our team stronger every day.

• Outstanding Dedication to Care Award – honouring someone whose commitment to delivering exceptional care shines through in everything they do.

Meet Our Winners

📸 Rising Star Award – Toyin

Photo of Toyin receiving the Rising Star Award.

📸 Legacy Award – Deirdre

Photo of Deirdre receiving the Legacy Award.

📸 Heart of Gold Award – Juanita

Photo of Juanita receiving the Heart of Gold Award.

📸 Extra Mile Award – Jennifer  & Outstanding Dedication to Care Award – Theresa

Photo of Theresa (LEFT) receiving the Outstanding Dedication to Care Award.

Photo of Jennifer (right) receiving the Extra Mile Award.

📸 Team Spirit Award – Catherine

Photo of Catherine receiving the Team Spirit Award.

📸 Excellence in Communication Award - Colette

A Final Thank You

While these awards celebrate a handful of outstanding individuals, they also represent every member of our Affinity Plus family.

To each and every one of our carers, thank you. Thank you for the compassion you show, the comfort you provide and the difference you make every single day. Your work often takes place quietly behind the scenes, but its impact is felt by every client, every family and every colleague.

We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our clients and their families who took the time to nominate our carers. Your thoughtful words and heartfelt stories remind us why we do what we do and just how much our team means to those we support.

Congratulations to all of our 2026 Carer Award winners. We are incredibly proud of every one of you and grateful to have such an inspiring team representing Affinity Plus in our community.

Here's to another year of caring, supporting and making a difference—together.