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Aged care provider Catholic Healthcare is celebrating 30 years of caring for older Australians in NSW and Queensland.
The organisation’s success today dates back more than 150 years to their religious founders, who were unified in their mission to help the sick and the poor.
“Catholic Healthcare was the first organisation in Australia and arguably the third in the world to be established as a Ministerial Public Juridic Person,” said Catholic Healthcare Trustee Dr Peter Steane MSC.
“Catholic Healthcare was founded and tasked to continue the various ministries of religious sisters who for decades built up health services of care for the poor, sick and marginalised in Australian cities and country areas.”
After starting in hospitals, Catholic Healthcare soon expanded into aged care services, beginning with homes at Bathurst, Forbes, and Wentworth Falls in NSW.
The new century brought a new focus as Catholic Healthcare moved away from hospital administration and focused more on providing aged care services. An exceptional period of growth saw expansion across NSW and into Queensland.
Today, Catholic Healthcare has 5,500 employees and 800 volunteers caring for 10,000 older Australians.
A 30-year celebration was held recently at Catholic Healthcare’s head office at Macquarie Park in Sydney, bringing together the Board, trustees, members of religious orders and employees. Over 60 events will take place at other locations over July and August.
Catholic Healthcare Board Chair, Stephen Teulan, expressed his appreciation to Catholic Healthcare’s employees:
“Caring for older people is fundamentally important work. It is a practical expression of love, and it is sacred work,” Mr Teulan said.
Catholic Healthcare CEO Josh McFarlane reflected on all that Catholic Healthcare has achieved during the past 30 years.
“As we reflect upon our humble beginnings and consider the scale of our services today, I am in awe of how much our wonderful organisation has achieved,” he said.
“It is a privilege and honour to lead such a mission-and values-driven organisation. I extend my heartfelt appreciation and admiration to everyone who has contributed to Catholic Healthcare’s journey.”
Catholic Healthcare was founded on 21 July 1994, when the Bishops of NSW and ACT signed the foundation decree. CEO Chris Rigby was the first and only employee at the time.
Pictured above: Br Julian Liddiard OH, CEO Josh McFarlane, Board Chair Stephen Teulan, Sr Judy Sippel RSJ, Trustee Dr Peter Steane MSC, Sr Loreto Conroy RSM and Sr Kathleen Cotterill LCM, cut the cake
(Source: Catholic Healthcare)
