Our History

Where it all began...

Baptcare's work began when Strathalan Community opened in 1945 as Australia’s first Baptist Home for Elderly People.

Strathalan homestead

The Baptist Church bought the Strathalan homestead in 1944 and the Victorian Baptist Women’s Association (VBWA) recognised the building’s potential. The VBWA - shown in the photo below - put forth the idea of Strathalan becoming a home for the elderly at the Baptist Union of Victoria’s half yearly assembly, and the idea was approved.

VWBA women

The VBWA raised an astonishing 4,000 pounds over four years, enabling the Strathalan Home for the Elderly, to come into being. Community support was phenomenal, and Strathalan officially opened its doors on the 24th February 1945.

And we’ve kept growing....

Karana Community in Kew - shown below - was built in 1959 when Miss Ruth Wilkins generously bequeathed her land after inheriting it from her brother, an Antarctic explorer.

The old KaranaThe old Karana

Northaven Community came into being in 1960 when the Northern District Baptist Association was advised that the old Kerang Bush Nursing Home was available for redevelopment. A local steering committee was created and together with Baptist Social Services, Northaven became a reality.

Rev Bill Collard Strathalan’s Superintendent, brought up Footscray’s need for an aged care facility. As a result, Footscray’s Baptist Church Community assisted with the development of a nursing home on a block of land opposite the church, and Westhaven Community opened on 17th March 1962.

Baptcare has provided Community Aged Care services for 40 years, beginning with the Church Nursing Service in 1964 that was founded by Sister Ivy West and her team.

Church Nursing ServiceChurch Nursing ServiceChurch Nursing Service

Over time, Baptcare has extended its services to include Day Therapy, Community Aged Care Packages, Extended Aged Care at Home Programs, and Respite and Day Centres.

The Hedley Sutton Community opened in 1966, and the nursing home was developed later with the proceeds of a legacy. It was named for the Reverend J Hedley Sutton in honour of his service as a Missionary and as a beloved and respected Carey Baptist Grammar teacher.

Land for the Boronia Units was provided by a Boronia Baptist Churchmember in 1972 and in 1996 the Wangaratta Baptist Church with Baptcare developed the Swan Street public housing project for low income families and individuals.

St Hilary’s Community became part of Baptcare in 1997. It was converted into a nursing home in 1989, after being the local Bush Nursing Hospital and then the Morwell & District Community Hospital.

Southaven Community was opened in September 1997. The respite centre began at the same time offering occasional overnight care to day centre clients. Co-located with Southleigh, a Baptcare low level care facility, it shared many services including management, maintenance and food.

The first Baptist Opportunity Shop opened in Kew in 1969. In 2004, all stores went through a renovation and were newly branded as Bargain Browsers. The Bargain Browser stores are located in Ashwood, Ballarat, Brunswick, Ringwood East, Yarraville, Werribee and Tottenham.

In 1981 the Aberfeldie Baptist Church became involved with emergency childcare services to assist families and children facing crises or ‘at risk’ situations. As the services continued to grow, Baptcare accepted full operations of Abercare Family Services, continuing its commitment to meeting the needs of families, youth and children in the western and northern suburbs of Melbourne.

In 2008, Baptcare re-developed its Brunswick Bargain Browser and launched a new ‘ethical and earth-kind op shop’ called eekos, in partnership with Green Collect. In the same year, Baptcare launched Sanctuary, a facility that provides supported accommodation to male asylum seekers in partnership with Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project and the Brunswick Baptist Church.

On July 1st 2008, Baptcare merged with Karingal Care Services in Tasmania who operate a residential aged care facility and a day therapy centre, and now provides aged care services interstate.

We’ve come a long way over the years, and with your support we can continue caring for more and more people in our community.

For further information please contact Tara Anderson, Marketing & Communications Manager on (03) 9831 7205 or tanderson@baptcare.org.au

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