NT - Telstra Australian Business Awards

“When you have surgery at Darwin Day Surgery, the nurse to patient ratio is 1-to-1 not 1-to-10, as with most other facilities.” – Joanne Kovac, Director.

A lack of nurses and theatre time at Darwin Private Hospital prompted registered nurses Joanne Kovac and Maureen Schaffer to form a partnership with resident plastic surgeon, Ravi Mahajani, and open Darwin Day Surgery in Fannie Bay in 2007. The surgery carries out procedures under local and intravenous sedation, specialising in the removal of lesions, such as skin cancers, and providing the full gamut of minor plastic and hand procedures. Joanne admits it was daunting self-funding such a complex, compliance-heavy business, and neither she nor Maureen drew wages in the first few months. However, as the surgery established contracts with all private health funds and government service providers, its services grew rapidly to more than 500 procedures a year. This has helped reduce waiting lists for elective surgery in the Northern Territory. The business is now opening a new facility with two theatres, expanding operating hours and the variety of procedures it performs.

“We’re the only residential builder in Darwin using on-site technology, which provides a series of quality assurance checklists and prompts, from the point of deposit through to construction.” – Justin Gill, Owner.

Justin and Karinda Gill established Abode New Homes in 2007 having previously owned a building company and a project home franchise. Feeling limited by a franchise but realising the benefits of systemised processes, the Gills started their own business to create environmentally sustainable project homes, suited to the Top End’s climate. Abode New Homes offers 26 designs, adaptable to client needs, plus house and land packages, finance and management of construction, from soil testing through to colour consultation. The Palmerston company capitalised on a growth opportunity last year when the Territory Government ran ballots for house and land packages under $420,000 in the suburb of Bellamack. Abode designed a range to meet the criteria and was chosen as the builder for the majority of packages. The Home First range has continued as a growth niche for the business, which built 53 homes last financial year, doubling its first year constructions.

“We continue to be progressive in our thought leadership for our customers.” – Chris Coleman, Director.

Area9 IT Solutions delivers tailored services, solutions and support to ensure customers are getting the best possible value from their information technology (IT) environments. The company started in 2007 as the result of a management buyout of a Northern Territory technology company that was shutting its doors and leaving town. Managers David Metcalfe, Chris Coleman, Mary McAlpine and Johnny Politis wanted to stay, so they bought the Winnellie business, made offers to existing staff and convinced sufficient customers to give them a go. Area9 provides clients with IT services such as infrastructure design, procurement, implementation, management and problem solving. Revenue has increased five-fold since 2008 and staff numbers have shot from 13 to 46. Growth has been partly driven by the business tapping into cloud computing and the appointment of an additional new director, Simon Watt. Clients can rely on Area9’s high-performance data centre on a pay-as-you go basis.

“Darwin Day Surgery is able to provide a cheaper and timely alternative to hospitalisation, and is a model for the future pathway of health care in the Northern Territory.” – Joanne Kovac, Director.

Medical staff shortages, limited operating hours and long waiting lists at local hospitals continue to drive innovation at Darwin Day Surgery. Owned and operated by two registered nurses, with a surgeon as business partner, the surgery opened in 2007 as an alternative to Darwin’s two main hospitals for procedures such as minor plastic and hand surgery and skin cancer removal. Clients book their surgeries on a day convenient to them and are operated on, recovered and discharged within two hours of arrival. Darwin Day Surgery is now building a new, two-theatre facility in Palmerston to broaden non-elective services and further reduce waiting lists. To fund the new venture, the business negotiated with a developer to build and sell them the facility as part of a new healthcare precinct. In return, Darwin Day Surgery introduced the developer to allied health professionals to take tenancy of remaining space, introducing more medical services to the growing region.

“From the outset, Area9 made it a clear goal to give back to the community where it could, and therefore play a small part in continuing the growth of the Northern Territory.” – Chris Coleman, Director.

When David Metcalfe, Chris Coleman, Mary McAlpine and Johnny Politis saw the technology company they worked for was shutting down, they decided to set up their own IT business in Winnellie. Established in 2007, Area9 provides IT services such as infrastructure design, procurement, implementation, management and problem solving. The business participates in work experience programs with more than 10 local schools. Each year Area9 take on approximately 12 students for one week at a time. Students accompany engineers to sites and are given the opportunity to handle equipment and assist engineers under supervision and observe how business technologies function in the workplace. Area9 contributes a portion of its annual profit to each of its charity customers, in addition to donating IT equipment and IT infrastructure management services to these clients. The business also sponsors the local Waratahs Football Club, supporting the club with funding that is used in part to recruit Territorians from remote communities.

“It’s very satisfying and encouraging to know the business has improved while having a positive influence on the region's economy, service provision and residents.” – Jason Newman, Owner.

The family-operated Eldorado Motor Inn invests in youth training and upskilling in the remote Tennant Creek region to ensure sustainable recruitment for its business, but also to create a motivated and healthy community. With average occupancy rates growing from 36 to 70 per cent in three years in their 76-unit motel, owner Jason Newman and his family have ramped up recruitment and training of apprentices through partnerships with regional training organisations and Rotary International. Eldorado invests in community programs - it’s the sole financial supporter of a horsemanship program for indigenous students, created in conjunction with the remote Elliott Community School to encourage more students to attend and stay in education. The business also supports the Northern Territory’s Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program with accommodation and training venues for program employees, and encourages the motel’s resident contractors to get involved in community programs to integrate and build relationships.