Calvary Health Care

When our six founding Sisters sailed into Sydney in 1885, they had little knowledge of the healthcare legacy they would create. The Sisters’ story of enduring care for the physical and spiritual health of so many Australians continues to underpin the Spirit of Calvary and our mission of being for others.

Our work the past year has focussed on ensuring we remain an economical and socially sustainable not-for-profit healthcare provider, leading to our organisation-wide strategic vision for great, connected care.

We continue to build capability across our 18,000-strong workforce, partnering with tertiary educators for placements, traineeships, on-the-job training and career development pathways. We welcomed 66 nurse graduates, 103 aged care and 15 home care trainees, and 115 international recruits across a number of roles.

We continue to invest in new and existing assets. This includes a $10.8 million, 14-bed expansion of our Hyson Green mental health unit, the $4.75 million state-of-the-art oncology Connery Centre, and a renewed Memorandum of Understanding for the stage three co-located private hospital in Elizabeth Vale.

This year we introduced our new PEARS model of care. The principles-based person-focused model outlines Calvary’s vision for aged care. Supporting this was a $1 million expansion of our George Vowell home, to provide active support for residents living with dementia.

Technology is a major enabler of our strategy, and we are developing an unique digital platform. The Calvary Care System platform will provide a seamless and compassionate healthcare experience for people, enabling access to appropriate care in the place where an individual wants or needs to be.

We have an obligation to manage our resources responsibly. Calvary has taken its strongest step yet in the sustainability arena reaffirming our stance to eradicate modern slavery and aiming to reduce our carbon footprint by at least 43% by 2030.

During a period where cost of living pressures are present for all, Calvary continues to put our patients, residents and clients at the centre of all our decisions. We are proud that people choose to come to Calvary for their care.

I thank all staff and volunteers for their ongoing contributions to provide quality care across our Calvary services. The support of our Board and Trustees is also appreciated as we embark on a transformation that reflects the legacy of our founding Sisters.

Martin Bowles AO PSM

National Chief Executive Officer

Calvary Hospitals provide acute and sub-acute care across ACT, NSW, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.

Oncology staff from Calvary Central Districts relocated to the new $4.75 million Connery Centre in South Australia. The enhanced oncology service includes 18 oncology chairs and three treatment rooms designed and equipped to deliver chemotherapy, day haematology and other oncology treatments.

An expansion of the Hyson Green unit at Calvary Bruce Private Hospital will benefit Canberrans needing mental health care and support. The 24-bed extension carers to inpatients and outpatients, including bedroom and day-to-day treatment rooms, communal spaces and offices on the second level.

Calvary St Vincent's Hospital in Launceston conducted its first vNOTE procedures; a new hysterectomy reducing time in hospital, faster recovery, less pain and no visible scarring. This is the latest advancement in minimally invasive surgery and another option for women needing surgery to remove reproductive organs.

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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 recorded fall rates in hospitals and Residential Aged Care lower than the industry benchmarks. While there is no industry benchmark for Home Care, Calvary records falls comparisons across services year on year.

Calvary supports a culture of open and transparent partnership with consumers and the community and we welcome patient, resident and client feedback.

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Calvary offers a range of aged care homes across ACT, NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland.

In a first for Calvary in Australia, residents at Calvary Riverside Views in Launceston are co-designing aspects of their care, experience and life in their aged care home as part of the new Calvary PEARS model of care.

Partnering with University of Sydney, Calvary Ryde commenced trialling and evaluating I-CHARP, a reablement program helping residents with mild to moderate dementia remain healthy and independent supported by occupational therapists and nurses.

A 19-bed fully refurbished wing at Calvary George Vowell in Mount Eliza opened, offering a contemporary design supporting modern models of care including the Montessori memory support program for residents living with varying levels of dementia.

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Retirement Living at Calvary respects the freedom to live independently. These villages are often co-located with an aged care home making transitions to full-time care easier when needed and supported by other partners in care.

A GP clinic at Calvary’s landmark Calvary Kooyong retirement living, health and aged care precinct is the latest step to delivering integrated living with a primary health clinic supporting residents to live well and in place as they age.

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Calvary supports people in their own homes through a range of aged care, disability and support services to enable independence, improve social connections and promote positive health and wellbeing.

A 104 year-old Canberra woman has been supported by Calvary Home Care for more than ten years, allowing her to live close to her two children and maintain her independence.

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The care we provide to our patients, residents and clients is enhanced by the volunteers who dedicate their time, donors who financially support us, and grants that contribute to uplifting our services.

Our SA Hospitals host intergenerational volunteers who support our patients. Emma Carrabba, began volunteering at Calvary Central Districts Hospital as soon as she turned 18. Her grandmother Lyn Beeby, volunteers at Calvary North Adelaide.

A $450,000 refurbishment of a cottage at the Calvary Riverina Drug and Alcohol Centre. Part-funded by a Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies grant, the cottage is used for transitional housing by clients completing the residential program.

Tomago Aluminium donated $14,000 to the Calvary Mater Newcastle to support the haematology department’s research to identify new cellular targets that can be used for drug development and predicting the best treatment for each patient.