Calvary Health Care

The theme of our celebrations is “A future of hope” and as we continue to refine our business aspirations and goals we will do so with an ongoing reverence to our mission of Being for others; the Calvary benchmark for how we treat others and what we seek to achieve in providing safe, compassionate and person-centred care.

In 2024, we reframed our strategic vision to be ‘Sharing the Spirit of Calvary through Great, Connected Care. In the last year, Calvary has enabled this vision to become a living reality. No better example is that of Don, a Veteran in Launceston who was guided and supported by all four cornerstones of the Calvary Care System. His person-centred care was tailored to meet his needs firstly in hospital and then transitioning in to respite care in residential aged care, before becoming a Cosgrove Cottages retirement living resident also receiving Calvary’s home care supports. The care is just one part of his supported journey. Our team worked collaboratively to assist Don as he navigated the complex health system to ensure his holistic wellbeing.

Great, Connected Care is to the key to Calvary’s future successes. As our Foundress, Venerable Mother Mary Potter said: “We are commencing a work in time that is to influence eternity”.

At the same time, we are proud to ensure equitable access to care is maintained and at the forefront of our healthcare system. This commitment was evident in South Australia when Calvary accommodated 147 vulnerable cancer patients displaced and discarded through a failing competitor hospital and subsequent bail out to ensure uninterrupted and compassionate care. And again, when Calvary Lenah Valley Hospital announced it would expand its maternity services in the wake of another provider closing obstetric services, giving Tasmanian women choice in their care.

Underpinning the delivery of our care are our people. We take our responsibility to nurture and develop their capabilities seriously. This year, we were delighted to be named by Randstad as Australia’s most attractive employer of choice and healthcare brand – an honour that is both gratifying and humbling.

To support our workforce, we also continue to invest in new and existing assets, to create work and care environments that meet the needs of modern healthcare. This year we have announced a major redevelopment of Calvary John James Hospital in Canberra, extensive renovations to the Lenah Valley maternity unit, supported by Tasmanian Government funding, upgrades to Calvary North Adelaide Hospital and extensive refurbishments of 47 retirement living units across Victoria and Tasmania. A Commonwealth grant has also enabled new staff accommodation for our Malukunya service on the Tiwi Islands.

Technology also continues to strongly influence the breadth and capacity of work we undertake, with the launch of a new Calvary Health Care website supporting improved engagement with consumers, along with a large-scale digital transformation to enable compliance with the new Aged Care Act. Known as the Calvary Care System platform, this will support our connected care strategy and digitally link all our services in the future.

We collectively thank the National Executive Leadership Team, Board and Trustees for their commitment to our Mission, and we are eternally grateful to our staff, volunteers, and partners in care for their ongoing efforts and look forward to the year ahead.

Calvary is committed to reducing consumer harm while maximising independence and wellbeing.

Falls monitoring demonstrates the effectiveness of falls prevention strategies in our services.

Calvary is committed to research that aims to improve the health outcomes of our patients, residents and clients, endorsing a Research Governance Framework and Research Action Plan 2024-2026.

Calvary Haydon and the University of Canberra undertook a year-long research project trialling a new way to deliver allied health, in the residential aged care setting. The outcomes of the project will be released in late 2025.

Calvary Mater Newcastle is the first hospital in NSW named a Centre of Excellence by the Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation, recognising its work in the diagnosis, treatment and research of the rare blood cancer.

Calvary is partnering with the University of Sydney to trial and evaluate a reablement approach where occupational therapists and aged care nurses help residents with mild dementia continue activities, and maintain their independence and function for longer.

Calvary Health Care Tasmania’s volunteer program, comprising more than 70 volunteers from all walks of life, backgrounds, and diverse abilities, won Volunteering Tasmania’s award for inclusive volunteering.

More than 50 volunteers bring compassionate care to Calvary Health Care Kogarah patients including Julie Spaul, a trained hairdresser, supporting those experiencing hair loss due to illness or treatment through the Wig Library.

Calvary Lenah Valley Hospital’s private emergency department returned to operating 24 hours, seven days a week in partnership with Care 24-7, Australia’s leading provider of specialist-led private hospital emergency departments, extending its existing partnership with Calvary in Adelaide since 2021.

Calvary Adelaide Hospital partnered with UniSA, which designed a perioperative escape room specifically for nursing staff at the hospital. The simulated experience is an Australian-first for private hospitals and puts nurses to the test solving complex scenarios and responding to emergencies.

Calvary Bruce Private Hospital partnered with Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) to deliver life-changing surgery for Vanuatu’s Habib Sakama Tom. The 17-year-old from Tanna Island had a complete hip replacement improving mobility and alleviating pain.

A $450,000 cottage refurbishment part-funded by Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agency, is providing transitional housing for clients of the Calvary Riverina Drug and Alcohol Centre, allowing them to continue their recovery in a safe and supported environment.

The proposed Calvary John James Hospital redevelopment will replace ageing infrastructure with a modern hospital comprising 98 beds, including maternity, special care nursery and adult intensive care, ten operating theatres, endoscopy facilities, and a rehabilitation gymnasium.

Calvary provides private hospital services across ACT, NSW, SA and Tas, and operates public hospitals in NSW and Vic.

Calvary Lenah Valley Hospital performed its 1000th cardiothoracic surgery on patient Ian Rowbottom in July 2024. He met the hospital’s first patient, Toni Bird, who was 57 when she had a quadruple coronary artery bypass in July 2018.

Calvary Mater Newcastle is the first hospital in Australia to implement an MRI-only planning approach for radiation therapy, marking a significant advancement in the treatment of prostate cancer. Efforts are underway to expand its use to treat other cancers.

Calvary Riverina Hospital gynaecologist, Dr Marlene Bothma, performed Wagga Wagga’s first lapraroscopic hysterectomy with ICG fluorescence mapping and sentinel node mapping for endometrial cancer, removing the need for travel to a capital city for treatment.

In ACT, NSW, NT, SA, Tas and Vic, Calvary delivers a range of home care services enabling independence, improving social connections and promoting positive health and wellbeing.

A partnership between Calvary Health Care Home Care in Flinders Far North and Independence At Home is delivering significantly enhanced occupational therapy (OT) services for clients in hard-to-reach locations to remain safe and well in their own home.

Lucia Alesiani no longer struggles carrying laundry at her retirement village thanks to her home care support package. To improve her quality of life and ensure ongoing independence, her package helped deliver a hideaway laundry within her unit.

Calvary opened a new Mid North Coast Home Care Service Centre in Forster, to support the increasing demand for services that will help more older people in the region stay in their homes and their communities for longer.

Calvary provides retirement villages and senior rentals in ACT, NSW, SA, Tas and Vic, enabling older Australians the freedom to live independently.

Compassion and practicality were the driving forces behind transitioning Sydney Williams retirement village in Doncaster East to a seniors’ rental site. Co-located with Calvary Millward aged care home and access to home care services provides affordable housing supporting residents to age in place.

Calvary operates homes across ACT, NSW, Vic, SA and Tas.

In the spirit of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Federal Minister for Aged Care and Sport, Annika Wells officially opened the Calvary Aged Care Games for our seven residential aged care homes in South Australia. Teams went head-to-head in a series of competitive events for all abilities including basketball, aeroplane throwing and a quiz.

A dementia support program introduced in Calvary’s aged care homes across Melbourne’s Mornington and Bayside areas won the national quality and safety award. Based on a Montessori approach, the Calvary program provides meaningful, tailored, small-group activities and support for residents living with dementia.

Staff at Calvary St Paul’s aged care home at Cundletown, near Taree, experience for themselves what a resident sees and feels to better understand their vulnerabilities through a co-designed series of hands-on, practical training sessions for new trainees, existing staff and future starters, to improve the resident experience.