“We believe that our elderly are entitled to quality care. This is a fundamental right, no matter who the person is, their cultural background, their circumstances, or where they live.”
Donna Cross of CDCS (Culturally Directed Care Solutions) is a Quality & Compliance Specialist with more than 25 years of experience supporting aged care providers across rural, regional, and remote Australia.
Donna’s expertise lies in developing functional policy and systems, understanding what makes an organisation and its people tick, and finding workable solutions that stick. Her deep knowledge of compliance and quality, combined with a talent for bringing all levels of an organisation together, helps aged care providers deliver better, more sustainable services for older Australians.
At CDCS, Donna and her team specialise in supporting First Nations, CALD, rural and remote communities, working collaboratively alongside organisations to identify gaps, access the right resources and training, and co-create practical, compliant solutions. From consulting and mentoring to funded support through the Australian Government’s Services Development Assistance Panel program, CDCS has completed more than thirty SDAP projects. Donna’s work makes quality aged care more accessible for those who need it most.
Beyond her business, Donna is an active advocate for Rural and Remote Aged Care, serving on the Department of Health & Aged Care Quality Sector Reference Group.
“I am linked to a community of like-minded entrepreneurs, and the networking is amazing. The teaching and learnings I have gained as a member for nearly 20 years have been a major contributing factor to me staying ‘in business’ and continuing to grow and realise the dreams and goals I have.”
Donna has been a Member of the HerBusiness Network since 2013 and in her nearly 20 years as a member, she has travelled with us to Hawaii and Greece on our retreats and has been part of the HerBusiness Boardroom program since it began.
Through her years in the Network and Boardroom, Donna has found a community and accountability that has shaped her both personally and professionally. Donna believes that accountability is at the heart of everything: “Staying on track and making myself accountable — everyone has challenges, and how we (I) respond to them makes the difference.”
Donna says of the Network and Boardroom, “The connection with other business women who are also juggling various life and business challenges and just how important it is to have a group of peers to connect with at this level. Being part of the Boardroom also helps you as an individual ‘show up’ and be accountable to yourself as well as others. Without this, it would have been too easy to keep overlooking my own priorities, personal and business development.”
Learn more about Donna and CDCS.
