BaptistCare celebrates 80-year legacy of love

This October, BaptistCare hits the impressive milestone of 80 years of care. As a leading not-for-profit care organisation, BaptistCare continues to transform lives by expressing the love of Jesus, a mission that began in 1944.

This month, over 100 BaptistCare sites across NSW, ACT, and WA will acknowledge the strong legacy of care as their teams continue to build with local celebrations suited to each service and team.

In addition, a commemorative dinner will be held in November in recognition of the past and the future of BaptistCare.

Charles Moore, BaptistCare CEO, says the significant anniversary provides an opportunity to honour the people who helped shape the organisation into what it is today.

“BaptistCare started from really humble beginnings in 1944… since then, we have grown and evolved but we’ve always stayed true to our mission of seeing every individual living well, and transforming lives by the love of Christ,” said Charles Moore, CEO of BaptistCare.

It was the 1940s, post-war Australia when a group of Baptists in NSW began responding to social change under the Baptist Homes Trust. A kindred ministry - Baptist Homes Board - was established on the West Coast in the early 1970s, in response to the need for suitable accommodation and nursing care for the elderly.

”All those years ago, a group of Baptists saw a need… they jumped in, they filled that gap, with faith, drive and purpose,” said Charles.

Today, 80 years on, BaptistCare walks alongside more than 25,000 people, supporting them to live well across more than 100 locations in NSW, ACT and WA.

This has expanded from the organisation’s first services providing accommodation for the elderly to becoming a leader in aged care, establishing thriving retirement communities, providing real and meaningful support to people and communities who are living on the margins, and delivering much-needed social and affordable housing.

More than 6,000 employees, from dedicated frontline teams and Chaplains, through to professional support services teams, and an incredible 600 volunteers, are proud to carry on the legacy of 80 years of care.

“As we look back and celebrate our legacy of care, we should be really proud. But we should also be proud of our future that together we are building. We are bringing care and support to more people and communities across the country than ever before in BaptistCare’s history.”

In celebrating this past, BaptistCare has been honouring the personalities who contributed to this powerful legacy across social media channels, including…

Dorothy Henderson OAM

Dorothy dedicated over 60 years of her life to our powerful legacy and played an immense part in BaptistCare’s first aged care home, Yallambi Elderly Ladies’ Home. Elected honorary treasurer of the Baptist Homes Trust’s Ladies’ Auxiliary (1952), Dorothy held the role for 30 years. She represents the armies of women who ensured people at risk found ‘home in the real sense of the word’.

David Buttfield

Images representing David Buttfield’s commitment date back to 1967. David officially joined the WA Baptist Hospital and Homes Trust in 1985 and became Chairman a year later. He held this position for 16 years until his death in 2002. Over 100 residents call David’s namesake site home, the BaptistCare David Buttfield Centre in Gwelup, 12kms north of Perth.

Lola Cousemaker OAM

Lola opened Karingal children’s home in 1956, turning the large Mosman house into a caring space for 168 vulnerable children until adoption was more socially accepted. After the home closed in 1986, many of the Karingal children returned with their own children to visit ‘Mum.’