Aged Care provider moves into northern region
RECENT news regarding the new operators of the Protea Aged Care facility in Douglas brought some comfort to staff and residents after months of uncertainty.
St Vincent’s Care Services agreed to purchase three residential aged care facilities in Queensland, currently operated by Prescare, located in Carina and Corinda Brisbane, and Douglas Townsville.
St Vincent’s Care Services CEO Lincoln Hopper said the acquisition was an exciting milestone for the organisation and brings its total portfolio of residential aged care facilities to 23 throughout Australia.
“St Vincent’s Care Services recognises the significant contribution that Prescare has made as a not-for-profit care provider to vulnerable older Australians for many years, and we intend to continue building on that legacy,” he said.
The Townsville facility will
be the first for St Vincent’s Care Service outside a capital city with 11 sites in Brisbane and another 11 located across Sydney and Melbourne.
“Strategically, our 2025 plan wanted to see us serve more people in more places and this acquisition naturally sees us doing that,” he said. “When this opportunity came
up it was the two centres in Brisbane and Townsville. We have a presence in Brisbane but nothing in Townsville as such, so we are thrilled by this exciting venture. Serving more people is behind this and Townsville is now part of this story. The reality that Townsville is a long way from our established facilities, we know through our other sites that this is achievable, and we have the structures in place.”
St Vincent’s Care Services has a long history in Australia.
Archbishop Poulding reached out to Mary Aitkenhead who established the Sisters of Charity in Ireland to come and support healthcare in this country.
Five women got on a boat, as soon as they arrived, they went straight to work with women in prisons and this quickly turned into hospital work and this moved into work in hospices and working with the aged.
“By taking this opportunity in Townsville we are continuing the spirit of those same sisters reaching out to places we have not been to before and asking how we can help and when that hand is extended we can then do our work,” he said. “Townsville’s a great place and this is a great opportunity for us to bring the care that St Vincent’s known for as well as the network of other St Vincent’s healthcare offerings and experience to the people of Townsville and the region.
“The residents clearly love where they are living and the facilities on offer and want to stay there and this sale provides them some closure to this uncertainty to them and the staff.”
Something unique in Townsville is the 20-bed special care unit for those living with dementia which shows the true spirit of St Vincent’s reaching out to the vulnerable.
“The Townsville facility is excellent and we have no intention to change that, we have a fantastic group of staff.
“Our job is to step gently and get to know the staff and residents and to get alongside and continue the excellence that in already in place and the only thing we need to do is to add our St Vincent’s flavour to what is already being done.”