BAPTISTCARE NSW & ACT
Charles Moore CEO 

The year 2020 has been one of milestones and challenges, resilience and blessing for BaptistCare. 

I commenced in the role of CEO in July, taking over the well-established mantle from Ross Low who faithfully served BaptistCare for over 16 years. I am excited to be a part of an organisation that places Jesus at the centre of all that it does and is committed to serving individuals and communities. 

Following celebrations marking 75 years of providing trusted care to people in need, our focus quickly turned to the COVID-19 global pandemic in March 2020, when BaptistCare Dorothy Henderson Lodge in Macquarie Park became the first home in Australia to experience a COVID-19 outbreak. 

Twenty-one staff and residents contracted COVID-19 and heartbreakingly six of our residents passed away. We are thankful that 15 residents and staff recovered. 

Across our services, the year offered a variety of opportunities to expand and enhance our care ministry. 

In February 2020 we welcomed Bethshan Gardens Centre, located in Wyee, to our portfolio of aged care homes. We continued the roll-out of our person-centred and relational care approach, MyTeam® across our residential homes 

Our At Home team implemented its Well-Living® program, focusing on the re- ablement of our customers through allied health staff, and further training of our employees. 

Our Community Services team worked tirelessly during the pandemic to secure funding from local councils, enabling them to deliver emergency relief to vulnerable communities and people experiencing unemployment or isolation. 

We continued work on our Social and Affordable Housing Fund community housing developments, opening communities in Newcastle, the Central Coast and the Blue Mountains. 

Our Retirement Living team completed the third stage of development at The Gracewood Community in Kellyville, stage two developments at Maranoa Village in Alstonville and commenced work on our newest retirement living community in the ACT, Yarra Rossa. 

Financially, it has been an incredibly challenging year with additional expenses relating to COVID-19 having a significant impact on our financial performance. We are thankful to have qualified for JobKeeper in its first phase to help support our staff and our response to the health crisis. 

We are proud of our ongoing collaboration with the Association of Baptist Churches of NSW/ACT, supporting communities in need. 

We worked with the Association to assist the bushfire ravaged area of Bateman’s Bay through the provision of a loan vehicle and counsellor. 

Our Connect Grant assisted West Ryde Baptist Church to employ a Community Engagement Coordinator to intentionally connect with the local community. 

Through the Spiritual Care Series, we trained nearly 90 people as Pastoral Care Volunteers, bringing encouragement and the loving presence of Jesus to people who are isolated, ill, lonely or living with disadvantage. 

On behalf of the Board and Executive Team at BaptistCare, I thank the Association and Baptist Churches across NSW and the ACT for their ongoing prayer and support of our organisation.