Chair and CEO Report

Welcome to the BaptistCare’s 2025 Annual Report

This year marks an historic milestone, as BaptistCare (NSW, ACT, WA), Baptcare (VIC, TAS, SA), and Baptist Care SA came together to form one national care provider. Officially effective from 1 March 2025, this unification was the result of thoughtful planning, prayerful discernment and a shared commitment to stronger services for Australian communities.

Our integration is more than structural. Teams are already collaborating across states, systems are being aligned and we are beginning to see the benefits of operating as a truly national organisation. BaptistCare CEO Charles Moore’s appointment to the Federal Government’s National Aged Care Advisory Council in early 2025 is a reflection of our growing influence.

As a newly-merged organisation, BaptistCare is currently undertaking the important process of building our new brand, purpose, vision and values; a vital step in establishing a unified identity and shared direction as one organisation. 

We welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to delay the introduction of the new Aged Care Act to 1 November 2025, following sector-wide feedback, including from BaptistCare. This additional time will allow us to further prepare our residents, clients and employees and strengthen systems for this significant person-centred reform. 

Access to safe and affordable housing remains a national challenge, especially for older women and low-income families. We remain committed to exploring options to expand our housing portfolio, advocate for investment and support those facing housing stress and homelessness. 

BaptistCare and Baptcare both marked 80 years of care — a testament to our legacy of faith-driven service. Celebrations included employees, customers and communities, with events across the country and a formal reception hosted by the Governor of Victoria in Melbourne. 

Our aged care communities continue to grow and evolve. In NSW, we celebrated the reopening of our 80-room BaptistCare Caloola home in Wagga Wagga and welcomed residents to Glendale Lodge, our new 96-bed home in southwest Sydney. Both feature BaptistCare’s new household living model that is focussed on shared spaces that feel like home. 

In WA, upgrades to William Carey Court, Gracewood, Gracehaven, and David Buttfield Centre have improved the comfort and dignity of resident living environments. In Victoria and Tasmania, we continued to roll out the Montessori-based Living Well Together program, which supports residents to live rich, meaningful lives through tailored care, supportive environments, clinical support and workforce training. 

Across the country, we’ve promoted and supported Consumer Advisory Bodies, ensuring that the voices of the residents and clients are at the heart of our decision-making processes. 

Our Home Care teams have worked hard to prepare for the incoming Support at Home reforms in November. 

A major transition in Victoria and Tasmania involved moving to a new client management and scheduling system, improving service outcomes and employee experience. We also expanded Refresh Retreats to WA, offering carers of people with dementia dedicated time for respite and wellbeing. Our focus on high-level clinical services from dispersed multi-disciplinary teams is achieving significant outcomes for older people with complex health needs seeking to remain at home. 

In NSW, new hubs in Griffith and Strathfield strengthened local service delivery. When floods struck the Mid North Coast, our teams provided urgent assistance and wellbeing checks, showcasing our responsiveness in times of crisis. 

Our retirement communities continued to thrive. We secured final approval for the Carlingford Seniors' Living Village in Sydney and broke ground on the $25 million expansion at Kintyre Living in Dubbo, NSW. 

In Victoria, we completed Stage 3 developments at Strathalan (Macleod) and The Orchards (Doncaster), adding 84 new villas with landscaped communal spaces. Most were sold prior to completion, reflecting continued demand. 

Across NSW, our HopeStreet teams hosted inclusive events like International Women’s Day and NAIDOC Week, while supporting people experiencing disadvantage. In the South Coast region of NSW, HopeStreet Port Kembla secured funding to transform an outdoor courtyard into a kitchen garden and café. Additional funding supported a new water play area for the Supported Playgroup at Warilla. 

In South Australia, Disability Services supported three participants to transition into their own purpose-built Supported Independent Living homes, representing a life-changing milestone as each client began living independently.

In Adelaide, WestCare Centre continued to offer essential services, meals and shelter to those facing homelessness. The site opened overnight during 19 Code Red and Blue weather events and in May, launched a women-only space to enhance client safety during these events. Community-building initiatives included Reconciliation Week, a greening project with Green Adelaide and a new No Interest Loans Scheme in partnership with Uniting SA.

In Victoria, our Home Start Bendigo team was honoured as a finalist in the 2024 Victorian Protecting Children Awards, recognising their in-home volunteer support for families with preschool-aged children. 

In Tasmania, we launched a revised model for care for our Horizons Service Navigation program in July 2024, using Lived Experience Practitioners and supporting 39 people with complex mental health needs. Outcomes have been positive, with improved wellbeing and strong participant feedback. 

Our Foster and Kinship Care program in Tasmania expanded significantly, responding to increasing demand with more placements and enhanced carer support. 

Thanks to the continued generosity of our community and supporters, we’ve raised essential funds for our services. The 2024 Halo Ball in Sydney raised gross funds of $474,000 for family and domestic violence services. In SA, the School Rough Sleep Out raised $35,000 and built awareness among students. A 1,000km charity bike ride across New Zealand raised $385,000 for HopeStreet, demonstrating powerful community backing. 

In February 2025, we established BaptistCare Community Housing Limited (BCHL), a wholly owned, registered charity. All BaptistCare housing properties were transferred to BCHL, with no changes for tenants or staff. 

In NSW, we achieved a 94% tenant satisfaction rate, well above the 75% National Regulatory System for Community Housing benchmark. We also joined the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) NSW Cadetship Program, employing two cadets for 12 months to nurture future housing leaders. 

One of our housing model objectives is to foster connection. An example of this at work is at BaptistCare Narralling in southwest Sydney, where the co-located housing community and our adjacent new aged care home has led to employment pathways for tenants, including a single parent now working in the home. Events like the Kitty Doyle Spring Fair and Lismore Art Exhibition helped build community through art and celebration. 

In South Australia, Wright Place, our women-only crisis accommodation centre, has provided stability and support for 44 women since late 2023. This year has seen transformational outcomes, supporting women to secure long-term housing and rebuild their lives. 

In Victoria, we completed and tenanted 20 new large-family homes in Melbourne’s north and west. With limited stock of this size, these homes are meeting critical demand. Housing projects in Lalor and Keilor are on track to deliver 92 more homes by 2026. 

Innovation continues to drive service improvement. In Wagga Wagga, NSW, we are exploring the use of robotic assistive technology at BaptistCare Caloola to enhance services and resident experiences. 

We were honoured to receive national recognition at the Innovation Transforming Aged Care (ITAC) Awards, where our teams were awarded the Capacity Building Award and the Data Insights Award, highlighting our commitment to innovation, collaboration and creative thinking in aged care. 

An AI Translation pilot with housing teams in Sydney improved communication with tenants and was presented at the NSW CHIA Community Housing Conference in June. 

We continue to grow through thoughtful acquisition. This year, we welcomed two retirement villages and one aged care home in Sydney from Presbyterian Aged Care and Walter Skelton Village in southern Sydney; all aligned to our mission and values-driven approach. 

In NSW and ACT, we celebrated ten years of the Pastoral Care Volunteer Program. This nationally-delivered initiative sees trained volunteers providing emotional and spiritual support, reflecting our holistic care values. 

In Victoria our inclusive volunteering model received a national EV Strengthening Communities Fully Inclusive Volunteer Workplace Award. Co-designed roles, flexible support and youth initiatives have created meaningful engagement participants. 

Student and youth-focussed initiatives also continued to grow, creating pathways for emerging leaders and fostering strong intergenerational and community connections. 

Our Christian identity remains foundational. We are grateful for our ongoing partnerships with Baptist Unions and churches. Our Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care team continues to deliver care that respects the whole person, including emotional, cultural, spiritual and social wellbeing. 

BaptistCare’s financial position remains strong, underpinned by a solid underlying EBITDA that reflects resilience and stability of our core operations. The positive impact of our merger and acquisitions over the full financial year has further strengthened our balance sheet, providing scale and diversification to our revenue streams. This strong financial foundation enables us to pursue strategic investments and innovation, ensuring continued growth and sustainability. Our reported total comprehensive income for the year is $530m, inclusive of $496m of ‘Gain on bargain purchase’ accounting reflecting the value of the merger and other acquisitions. After other one-off adjustments, our underlying surplus for the year is $15m.

To every employee and volunteer, we extend a heartfelt thank you. This has been a year of transformation and your dedication, care, and adaptability have made it possible. We thank you for your ongoing resilience and grace as we’ve navigated change together. Your work continues to change lives.

To our supporters, partners and donors: thank you for your generosity and belief in our mission. Together, we are building a stronger BaptistCare.

We also acknowledge our former Boards and current Directors across the country for their governance, leadership and wisdom. 

We look to the future with hope and confidence – grounded in our values, strengthened by our unity and inspired by the communities we serve.