Foundation Story

History
Through the initiative of six religious groups, Catholic Healthcare was established in 1994 by the Bishops of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory as a response to changing needs in the provision of health, aged and community services. The six religious groups were:

 

• The Sisters of Charity
• The Sisters of St Joseph, NSW Province
• The St John of God Brothers
• The Little Company of Mary
• The St John of God Sisters
• The Sisters of Mercy, Singleton

 

Catholic Healthcare's first major work was the development of a unique health service at Windsor. In partnership with NSW Health, and at a cost of $46 million, Hawkesbury District Health Service continues today to provide a comprehensive range of health and community services to the people of the Hawkesbury region.

 

Catholic Healthcare's early days continued to focus on the provision of healthcare services, with Catholic Healthcare being requested to manage Lourdes Hospital, Dubbo and St. Vincent's Hospital, Bathurst and, for a short period, the Mater Misericordea Hospital, Newcastle.

 

From these beginnings, Catholic Healthcare was soon asked to respond to emerging needs in the provision of residential aged care.

 

In 1998, Catholic Healthcare acquired Bodington, a residential aged care service, from the Red Cross and then partnered with religious orders, parishes, dioceses, and community groups in the provision of aged care in New South Wales.

 

Developing and redeveloping residential aged care services also became a focus for the organisation as it strove to ensure that its services met the needs of residents and in particular, provided a home-like environment where residents and families would feel welcome. Development and redevelopment projects continue today and will continue in the future.

 

In 2007, Catholic Healthcare took its first steps outside NSW, working with the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and the Archdiocese of Brisbane at residential aged care services in Brisbane and Ipswich.

 

Catholic Healthcare has grown to be one of the largest providers of Catholic aged and community services in Australia. Working in metropolitan, regional and rural New South Wales, and also South East Queensland, Catholic Healthcare now owns or operates 39 residential aged care services and 10 seniors living communities.

 

Aquinas Court, Springwood

Holy Spirit Croydon

 

Continuing to respond to emerging needs, since 2004 Catholic Healthcare has been increasingly engaged in the care of people living in the community providing services in the home to elderly, frail and disabled persons and to persons with a mental illness. Respite services for carers are also provided. Homelessness and the problems facing those living in severe domestic squalor have also been a recent focus for the organisation which has led to transitional housing programmes and the first national conference on severe domestic squalor in 2009, which was a great catalyst for promoting dialogue and sharing expertise among related service groups.

 

Having established a separate division to cater for the specific requirements of our community service clients, Catholic Community Services currently assists over 4,200 people in New South Wales.

 

Today, with in excess of 3,200 employees, Catholic Healthcare has an enviable reputation in the provision of health, aged and community services. Operating within a values-based culture of compassion, excellence, honesty, hospitality and respect, Catholic Healthcare will continue to seek out and respond to new needs and challenges as they emerge, inspired by the healing mission of Jesus.

 

History - Timeline
Catholic Healthcare was established in 1994 by the Bishops of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. The table below lists the journey of our development 1994-2009.

 

2009	Casey Court and Villa Monica, Coffs Harbour transferred to the parish of St Augustine's, Coffs Harbour
	Lifestyle Home Services commences
2008	Sisters of Perpetual Adoration entrust us with the Villa Maria Centres at Fortitude Valley, Ipswich and Unanderra
	Paulian Villa, Northbridge closes
	Catholic Community Services initiates services in the Central Coast and Southern Highlands Severe Domestic Squalor Project commences
2007	Diocese of Bathurst transfers St Vincent's Hospital, Bathurst
	Sisters of Mercy, Bathurst entrust us with St Catherine's Aged Care Facility and its community services
	Justinian House, Crows Nest closes
	St Thomas Aquinas Parish entrusts us with Aquinas Court, Springwood
	Society of St Vincent de Paul NSW entrusts us with 19 residential aged care and three seniors living services
	Catholic Community Services commences services in the Riverina/Murray, Orana and Central West Regions. Catholic Community Services also commences mental health respite programs
2006	Sisters of St Joseph, Perthville entrust us with St Anne's Home, Perthville
	Forbes Jemalong Aged People's Association Inc entrusts us with Jemalong Retirement Village
	Diocese of Wollongong entrusts us with St Mary's Retirement Village and Bishop McCabe Retirement Village
	Archdiocese of Canberra-Goulburn entrusts us with Maranatha Lodge, Batehaven
	Archdiocese of Canberra-Goulburn entrusts us with Blakeney Lodge, Tumut
	Catholic Community Services formally establishes Clergy and Congregational Care Catholic Community Services also expands services in the City of Sydney, Inner Sydney, and commences services in the Hunter
2005	Brigidine House, Randwick, a ministry with the Brigidine Sisters, opens
2004	Holy Spirit Croydon opens
	NSW Health entrusts us with Macquarie Care Centre, Bathurst
	Holy Spirit Dubbo opens
	St Augustine's Parish, Coffs Harbour entrusts us with St Augustine's Aged Care, St Joseph's Aged Care, Ozanam Villa, Casey Court and Villa Monica
	We enter into partnership with the Sisters of Mercy, Parramatta, for Stella Maris Aged Care Service, Cronulla
	Sisters of Mercy, North Sydney entrust us with Justinian House, McQuoin Park, Mercy Community Care and Mercy Arms Community Care
2003	Diocese of Parramatta entrusts us with Emmaus Village, Kemps Creek
2002	Sisters of Mercy, Bathurst entrust us with Mater Aged Care, Forbes
1998	Australian Red Cross Society entrusts us with Bodington, Wentworth Falls
	Invited to manage Lourdes Hospital and St Vincent's, Bathurst on behalf of the Diocese of Bathurst
1996	Hawkesbury District Health Service, Windsor opens
1994	Management of Mater Hospital, Newcastle
	Catholic Healthcare is established
	Catholic Health Care Services (NSW and ACT) is erected by the Catholic bishops