The peak body for Baptist community service organisations has officially closed its doors.
Baptist Care Australia's (BCA) team has joined the newly merged BaptistCare organisation after the national peak body announced it will conclude operations.
Following the merger of key BCA state members Baptcare (VIC, TAS, SA), Baptist Care SA and BaptistCare (NSW, ACT, WA), there is no longer the same need for a national peak body, said BaptistCare in a statement.
“This is a natural and empowering next step for us all. With BCA’s insights and leadership embedded in our new national organisation, we will be positioned to combine and amplify the voices of our customers and communities with the frontline experience of our workforce,” said Charles Moore, CEO of BaptistCare.
“We know scale matters, and we are stronger together. As one organisation, we can enhance our influence to create positive, lasting change where it matters most, including aged care reform, housing and homelessness, and domestic and family violence.”
BaptistCare will establish a dedicated national advocacy function led by Robyn Sampson (former CEO of BCA), who will become BaptistCare’s General Manager, Advocacy. The BCA team will transition into BaptistCare, bringing with them deep expertise in government engagement, policy development, sector collaboration, and social advocacy.
The pace of consolidation among Baptist providers has been swift. BaptistCare NSW & ACT merged with BaptistCare WA in March 2023, followed by the November 2024 merger of BaptistCare, Baptcare and Baptist Care SA to create the nation’s third-largest integrated care and services provider.
“We need to evolve for the future. The relationships, expertise, and advocacy we’ve built over many years will now be embedded in a national care provider – one that is deeply committed to both service delivery and sector leadership. We believe this new model strengthens our capacity and resources to do even more, as one united voice,” said Robyn Sampson, CEO of Baptist Care Australia.
BaptistCare says it remained committed to ensuring the voices of BCA's non-merging members continue to be heard and will establish a new national network of Baptist social services to ensure former BCA members remain connected.
Non-merging former BCA members include:
- Ashfield Baptist Homes (NSW)
- Baptist Care NT
- Carinity (QLD)
- Village Baxter (VIC)
- Maroba (NSW)
- Bethshan Ministries (NSW)
- Crossway LifeCare (VIC)
BaptistCare is now one of Australia's largest Not For Profit providers of home care, retirement living, aged care, community housing and housing with more than 38,000 customers and 12,000 staff.