23/12/24
This year has been one of profound transformation and steadfast commitment. As your new CEO, I have been privileged to lead our organisation in deepening our advocacy efforts across critical social service domains – aged care, housing, community services, and charity sector reforms. Our unwavering focus has been on amplifying the voices of our member organisations and advocating for policies that empower and uplift Australians living on the margins.
This week, we are saying a heartfelt goodbye to John Gregg, our dedicated Policy and Advocacy Advisor. John's journey with us – a six-month appointment that extended for the full year – has been instrumental in our aged care policy reform efforts. With his extensive experience across social services in Australia, the Middle East, and Asia, John brought a deeply personal commitment to supporting marginalised communities. His work was especially poignant, having a personal connection to (BaptistCare) aged care through his own family's experience – a connection that brought both professional expertise and genuine compassion to our advocacy work. We are immensely grateful for John's contributions and wish him the very best in his next chapter.
We've celebrated several new beginnings this year. Alesandra Hernandez joined us in January as our Communications Officer and will soon be celebrating her first year with Baptist Care Australia. We also welcomed Vanessa Mason as our National Member Support Coordinator in August, who has been finding new ways to support our member organisations to connect with each other about their work on the ground. These new additions have brought fresh energy and perspective to our team.
I would also like to acknowledge the contributions of Sharon Neal, my incredible EA, whose unwavering support and dedication make her the vital backbone of our team. Our public successes – especially our annual conference – would not have been possible without her hard work behind the scenes.
This year, our work has been guided by a simple yet powerful mission: to bring equality and opportunity to Australian communities. By listening to our members and understanding the challenges they witness on the ground, we continue to identify and address systemic issues that impact the most vulnerable.
As I reflect on the year, I am filled with hope and gratitude. The spirit of compassion and resilience demonstrated by our members continues to inspire me. Each day, we witness the profound impact of dedicated social service professionals who work tirelessly to make a difference in people’s life.
May this Christmas season bring you peace, joy, and renewed hope. May the miracle of this time remind us of the power of community, compassion, and collective action.
From all of us at Baptist Care Australia, we wish you a blessed Christmas and a promising New Year.
Warmest regards,
Dr Robyn Sampson
Chief Executive Officer