Taking on the role of CEO has been a profound privilege. It has deepened my appreciation
for the enduring relevance of our Mission, especially in a time of reform and rising
complexity across aged care.

Amidst these changes, our purpose remains unchanged: to serve older Australians who face challenges in accessing care, with deeply personal and courageous care that is grounded in faith.

It's about Olga and Basil

At the heart of our work are people like Olga and Basil – two remarkable individuals whose stories reflect the dignity and value of those we are called to serve. Their experiences remind us that care is not a system – it is a relationship. It’s about being present, listening deeply and responding with compassion.

It is for Olga and Basil, and thousands like them, that we launched our Next Chapter Strategy and Ambition. This is not about growth for its own sake. It’s about stepping into the spaces where others hesitate. Where care is complex, unpredictable and deeply human. Where some might say ‘too hard’ – HammondCare says ‘we do’.

Our complex care ambition

Our Ambition is clear: to lead in complex care nationally, specialising in dementia and palliative care. This is not just a strategic direction – it’s a missional one. It’s about being
present in the lives of those who need us most, and doing so with courage, compassion and
conviction. I’ve been encouraged by how our people have responded. From the Board to our frontline teams, there’s been a shared commitment to innovate, integrate and serve. We’ve adopted six-month sprints to drive real-time change, so we can deliver complex care
to people like Olga and Basil sooner.

This year has also been a time to reflect on our Christian identity and Mission. This identity is
informed by our organisational theology and is the driver behind all that we do. As stewards of this generation, we’ve made a commitment to ensure our Christian identity is not only core to who we are, but also accessible to every member of HammondCare – and felt by those we serve.

Our Northern Sydney Masterplan is underway, with transformation planned for Greenwich, Wahroonga and North Turramurra. We’ve also begun the redevelopment of Bond House in
Hammondville – our heartland. These are not just capital projects. They are expressions of our Mission – places where older people with complex care needs will be known, valued and
cared for.

To support this, we’ve undertaken a major organisational redesign. We’ve aligned leadership and clinical structures to ensure we can respond with pace and quality. Complex care takes all of us, working together, to lead where others can’t or won’t.

Sharing a day with the frontline team at Cardiff, NSW 

Heartbeat of HammondCare

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed spending time at our sites across Australia, meeting our frontline teams and the people we serve. I am continually inspired by their dedication and want to thank them for their service. Their commitment and compassion are the heartbeat of HammondCare.

I also want to acknowledge Kok Kong Chan, our outgoing Chair. His leadership has been courageous, principled and deeply faithful. Over nine years, including as Chair, Kok Kong has helped guide HammondCare through a pivotal era – working alongside three CEOs and championing our Mission with integrity.

We are grateful for his commitment and thank him for the legacy he leaves as he continues on our Association. Thanks also to our entire Board for their support, hard work and ongoing commitment to HammondCare.

Thank you to our Leadership Team who have shown great vision during a year of significant transformation. We’ve delivered record statutory revenue of $620 million in FY25. This financial strength enables us to invest in our Next Chapter initiatives and progress major projects.

Innovation, integration, interstate

The new Aged Care Act, effective 1 November, brings significant reform. It’s keeping our teams busy, but it also introduces important measures for financial sustainability, particularly in residential care.

Looking ahead, we’re focused on three enablers of our Ambition – innovation, integration and interstate growth. Innovation is about improving the quality of care we provide. The launch of Hammond Innovations is a bold step forward, bringing practice-based research and thought leadership to the forefront of dementia and palliative care in Australia.

Integration means embedding our specialist expertise across HammondCare, translating research into practice, expanding community care and mentoring frontline teams. And our Mission calls us to provide more complex care to more people, so we’re investing in local and interstate partnerships to extend the reach of our specialist services.

Stories that matter

We’re also using technology to improve both the quality of care we provide and the experience of our people, and we’ll continue to invest here to enable us to deliver complex care at scale.

As you read through this Annual Report, I hope you are encouraged by the stories within – stories of care, courage and conviction. They reflect the heart of HammondCare and the extraordinary people who bring our Mission to life every day.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. It is a privilege to serve alongside you.

Warm regards,

Andrew Thorburn
CEO