Gathering of the Oyster Care Family
Last Friday, 5th December, the Oyster Care Foundation traded its usual day-to-day operations for a night of glamour, recognition, and festive cheer at the beautiful Lantern Club Roselands. Our annual Christmas Conference and Awards Night brought together staff from across all departments for a memorable celebration of the year’s achievements.
A Night of Festive Elegance
The venue sparkled with Christmas decorations, complemented by touches of the Oyster Care brand, including a striking media wall banner and pull-up banners. At 6:00 PM, the doors opened, and the excitement began! Our staff enjoyed mingling while the bar opened, courtesy of our CEO and Co-Founder, Vik, who opened the event with a warm and striking welcoming speech, including an acknowledgement of the country. Delicious food soon followed, setting the perfect mood for the night.
Spotlight on Success: Departmental Deep-Dives
The core of the conference component featured engaging presentations from various teams, highlighting their work and impact:
- NDIS Operations: The operations side of the NDIS business was front and center, with Operations Manager Jenna, followed by Shaveen and Claire, explaining their roles in service delivery and day-to-day running of the business.
- Grants & Programs: The Grants team, represented by Pooja and Coralie, detailed their efforts in securing essential funding. The presentation illuminated how these grants support program delivery, emphasising the foundation’s commitment to UN Sustainable Goals and Closing the Gap initiatives—a powerful insight for the audience.
The Vision of Oyster Group
Following the departmental presentations, we heard from Adarsh, Co-Founder of Oyster Group, and Davohn, Business Advisor for Oyster Hub. Adarsh took the stage to outline the significant milestones and achievements of Oyster Group and Oyster Hub since its inception in 2018.
In a truly interactive moment, Adarsh invited audience members to share what their ‘Pearl’ means to them. It was fascinating to hear the diverse and personal interpretations of the Oyster symbol.
"Mark shared that his "pearl is food and family."
Recognition and Merriment: Annual Award Winners
Following the insightful speeches, the moment everyone was waiting to arrive—the Annual Awards Ceremony! The air was electric as we recognised the outstanding contributions of our dedicated staff.
| Award Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Compliance & Documentation Champion | Jessica Fiu |
| Innovation & Problem-Solving Award | Jazz Weston |
| Cultural Connection Award | Melissa McDonald |
| Leadership Award | Coralie Bell |
| Excellence in Participant Support Award | Vasiti Tadulala |
| Rising Star Award | Nicholas Pana |
| Team Spirit Award | Tui Tolovaa |
| Community Champion Award | April Mahoney |
| CEO Award | Claire Lapatas |
Congratulations to all the winners for their exemplary dedication and hard work throughout the year!
Dancing the Night Away
With the formal proceedings concluded, it was time to celebrate! The evening’s entertainment was kicked off by Tito’s Dance Group, whose energetic and interactive performance was a huge hit! Many staff members jumped at the chance to join in, sharing laughs and showing off their moves.
The dance floor remained open, allowing staff to socialise and celebrate late into the night before the event wrapped up at 11:00 PM.
Oyster Care Foundation’s Christmas Conference and Awards Night was a resounding success—a perfect blend of professional reflection, well-deserved recognition, and festive fun. We look forward to an even more impactful year ahead!
