Plena Healthcare executive general manager of Allied Health Shehan Fernando connects his passion for positive ageing and supporting older people with growing up with his grandmother living in the family home.
“I learned a lot from her,” Mr Fernando told Australian Ageing Agenda. “And as soon as I stepped into aged care as a physiotherapist… I just kept learning, and felt very much the respect for that generation.”
In May, Mr Fernando was announced as one of three finalists of the inaugural Paul Johnson Positive Ageing Award, which is an initiative of the Positive Ageing Summit.
The award is named in honour of the late Paul Johnson and includes prize sponsored by not-for-profit aged care provider BallyCara, where Mr Johnson spent over a decade pursuing healthy active ageing.
“It means a lot,” said Mr Fernando, who received a certificate from BallyCara executive chairman Marcus Riley at the Summit.
Speaking to AAA beforehand, below he discusses the award, his passion for positive ageing and work in the field:
Positive Ageing Summit is an initiative of Australian Ageing Agenda and Community Care Review – read our coverage of the event here and find out more on the Positive Ageing Summit 2025 website
