Melissa Argent's Leadership Story

Rockpool’s Vision, Purpose, Leadership and Future

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Building a New Standard in Aged Care Leadership

At Rockpool Aged Care, we believe that quality leadership is the foundation of a strong and sustainable aged care sector. The performance of every provider shapes how Australians view the industry, which is why genuine, value-driven leadership has never been more important for the industry.

With constant change in regulation, funding and expectations, the aged care industry is transforming at a rapid pace. It is critical that operational resilience, financial stability and the delivery of quality care is embedded.

Rockpool is built on strong leadership, driven by compassion, innovation and accountability.  This balance ensures care and service experiences remains both sustainable and forward-thinking.

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Melissa Argent: From Nurse to Aged Care Innovator

At the heart of Rockpool’s story is our CEO, Melissa Argent, whose leadership journey embodies the balance of care and commerce that defines Rockpool’s success.

Melissa began her career as a Registered nurse, where she quickly recognised opportunities for improvement. “There had to be more efficient ways to manage processes and secure improved outcomes,” she recalls. While she loved clinical care, she also saw that the business of care needed equal attention. Her drive for more, to lead, to improve, to innovate, led her to study health management and later finance.

Her strengths in both patient care and data made her a natural leader. Yet the question “How can this be done better?” remained a constant motivation. That curiosity led Melissa into finance, where she learned the importance of setting high expectations and ensuring strong business foundations. “Aged care should never be an industry you cruise in,” she often says. “It should be a beacon of excellence.”

It was during this time that Melissa met her future business partners, Bill Summers and Michael Watson. The trio combined expertise from healthcare, finance and management, a blend that would become the cornerstone of Rockpool. Their shared vision, became the foundation for building a new kind of aged care provider, one where compassion and commercial strength work hand in hand.

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A Leadership Philosophy Built on Values

Rockpool’s leadership culture is grounded in three core principles.

• The first is a relentless drive to improve, to ask difficult questions, challenge conventions and push beyond the predictable.

• The second is the belief that success and kindness can coexist. Leadership at Rockpool is about surrounding yourself with talented, diverse people who challenge assumptions while leading with empathy.

• The third is the balance of care and commerce, rejecting the notion that profit, and purpose are at odds.

Melissa explains it best: “You can be a strong leader and be kind. I was once told I wouldn’t succeed because I didn’t have mongrel in me. I said, ‘No thanks.’ You can lead with strength, with empathy, and never lose sight of kindness.”

This philosophy underpins Rockpool’s success. It has enabled the organisation to thrive, even during uncertain times, by ensuring that financial strength supports, rather than competes with, compassionate care.

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Redefining Leadership in Aged Care

Melissa has been a strong voice for improving leadership capability across the aged care sector. She continues to advocate for greater focus on business, financial and leadership training, particularly for clinicians transitioning into management.

“There’s a gap in current university training,” Melissa says. “Clinical knowledge is taught exceptionally well, but where are the business units? Where is the accounting, the sustainable business principles, the leadership development? We can’t rely on compassion alone. Care must be supported by financial literacy and operational understanding.”

Her approach to leadership has shaped Rockpool into a business where every decision, from care delivery to construction, is made with purpose and accountability. “Business acumen is critical,” she adds. “Understanding how to manage costs, attract investment and build an exceptional team is how we keep building, innovating and providing the quality aged care Australia needs.”

Profit, for Melissa, is not a dirty word. “Profit isn’t the enemy,” she explains. “It’s the fuel that allows us to reinvest, to build more homes, create more jobs and deliver better outcomes for older Australians.”

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A Culture of Brilliance, Diversity and Respect

Rockpool’s leadership team is built around the belief that excellence thrives on diversity. “You should never be threatened by putting someone brilliant around you,” says Melissa. “I’ve surrounded myself with an incredible team of people from vastly different backgrounds who see things differently.”

This open and inclusive approach has fostered a culture of collaboration, innovation and challenge, where every voice matters and every idea contributes to better care outcomes. “Diversity and brilliance are what make us a force to be reckoned with,” Melissa says. “I love that my team challenges me, that’s how we grow.”

At Rockpool, leadership is not about hierarchy but connection. “When we’re having a tough day, we go out to one of our homes and remind ourselves, that’s what we’re here for,” Melissa says.

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Empathy and Transparency Through Change

The sale of Rockpool’s four operating Homes was not a decision made lightly. “We knew we were selling people’s homes,” Melissa shares. “Homes that employ frontline staff proud to work for Rockpool.”

Throughout the transition, the leadership team remained deeply connected to their values, prioritising transparency, empathy and respect. Both parties approached the transition with the same commitment to continuity and culture, ensuring that residents and staff remained at the heart of every decision.

The acquisition also provided Rockpool with the resources to grow faster and build smarter. It reaffirmed what Melissa and her co-founders had always believed, that when you lead with purpose and financial discipline, you attract partners who share your values.

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The Future of Rockpool: Growth, Innovation and Impact

Following the acquisition, Rockpool continues to expand its vision for aged care. Three new communities are already in development, with the first, Rockpool Northshore Hamilton, opening in 2026.

“This has allowed us to re-capitalise and build quicker,” says Melissa. “We’re almost back in start-up mode, developing, constructing and ramping up for what’s next.”

Each new site will reflect Rockpool’s commitment to modern, sustainable and resident-centred aged care. By bringing together exceptional care, contemporary design and strong leadership, Rockpool continues to redefine what aged care can and should be.

Melissa’s focus remains on people, her team, the residents and the broader sector. “You have to love what you do,” she says. “If you don’t feel pride in making a difference, then you’re in the wrong industry.”

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Rockpool’s Purpose: Compassion and Commercial Strength

Rockpool represents a blueprint for the future of aged care in Australia, one that proves that compassion, excellence and commercial strength can coexist.

At Rockpool Residential Aged Care, our purpose is clear, to show that aged care can be sustainable, innovative and deeply human. Our vision is to continue building communities where residents, families and staff can thrive, supported by leadership that is as caring as it is capable.

“The best team around you, that’s how you dream big and keep pushing the limits of what aged care can be.” - Melissa Argent, CEO, Rockpool Aged Care

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