Catholic Healthcare is celebrating 30 years of caring for older Australians. Our success today dates back more than 150 years to our religious founders, who were unified in their mission to help the sick and the poor.
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.
‘Catholic Healthcare was the first organisation in Australia and arguably the third in the world to be established as a Ministerial Public Juridic Person. 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,’ said Catholic Healthcare Trustee Dr Peter Steane MSC.
Starting in hospitals, first with Hawkesbury District Hospital, Catholic Healthcare soon expanded into aged care services, beginning with Bathurst, Forbes, and Wentworth Falls.
The new century brought a new focus as Catholic Healthcare moved away from hospital administration and focused more on aged care provision. An exceptional period of growth saw expansion across NSW and into Queensland.
Today, we have 5,500 employees and 800 volunteers caring for 10,000 older Australians.
A 30-year celebration was held at Catholic Healthcare’s Macquarie Park head office on 18 July 2024, with members representatives, the board, trustees, religious orders and employees in attendance. Each of our services are holding their own celebrations, with over 60 events taking place during July and August.
During the event, Catholic Healthcare Board Chair, Mr 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.’
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. 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,’ he said.