The Melbourne-based charity, which provides aged care, retirement living, and home care, has appointed Hugh Cattermole (pictured left) its new CEO after the departure of John Fogarty (right) last month.

John, who replaced Kerri Rivett in May 2022, was backed by the board and trustees to sell its aged care homes, bar the 192-bed Coppin Centre in Melbourne, after the Federal Government introduced the aged care sector's new funding model Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) on 1 October 2022.

Respect, the Tasmanian-based Not For Profit, is the latest to take over the ownership and management of Royal Freemasons aged care homes, announcing earlier this week it had bought the facilities in Moe, a town 130km east of Melbourne's CBD, and Sale, the city 212km east of Melbourne's CBD. Royal Freemasons has also sold its aged care homes and retirement villages to Aveo Group, Estia Health and mecwacare.

Hugh, who is left with 14 aged care homes and nine villages, was interim Chief Executive Officer of personal care business Heat Group. He previously was Chief Operating Officer at Jewish Care Victoria and Chief Executive Officer of Vivir Healthcare, part of RGF Staffing. 

“Hugh brings to the role a wealth of experience in the aged care and community sectors. We are very much looking forward to working with him as he sets our organisation on an exciting new direction,” Royal Freemasons Board Chair Craig Head said in a statement.  

You can find retirement villages in Victoria on villages.com.au.