The Better Life Choice
Over 70 years of valued experience that brings the needs of seniors front and centre
Goodwin, Canberra’s leading not-for-profit provider of senior living services, has recently celebrated a remarkable milestone—70 years of continuous service. Established in 1954, the organisation’s roots reach back to the late 1940s, when a gap in age-appropriate housing for older Australians in the national capital became increasingly evident.
Back then, Canberra was a young city, newly named Australia’s national capital and still carving out its identity. As public servants were being relocated to the region, the federal government provided housing support for incoming workers—but older Australians were left out of the equation. With few options available outside of living with family, the needs of seniors were starkly unmet.
Enter the National Council of Women. Stephen Holmes, Chief Executive Officer of Goodwin, credits this civic-minded group as the catalyst for the organisation’s formation. “They brought the issue to light and then came up with a solution,” he explains. “It was an organisation formed by the community, for the community.”
What followed was a massive grassroots fundraising effort across Canberra. Holmes notes that the “Buy a Brick” sticker drive was one of the most memorable campaigns. “You weren’t buying a brick per se—you were buying a sticker—but it symbolised your contribution to the construction of the first buildings,” he says. The campaign earned the support of Dame Pattie Menzies, wife of then-Prime Minister Robert Menzies, adding significant momentum to the cause.
Eventually, the Australian government matched the funds raised and granted a parcel of land for development. By 1959, Her Excellency Lady Slim erected and opened the first buildings. Just two years later, in 1961, the first nursing home in Canberra followed, inaugurated by Prime Minister Menzies himself.
From this humble beginning, Goodwin has become a keystone of aged care in the ACT and southern New South Wales. Its commitment to seniors has never wavered, but its methods have evolved significantly. Today, the organisation offers a comprehensive suite of services, including six retirement villages in Canberra and one in NSW, 400 residential aged care beds, and a rapidly growing home care program—all supported by a diverse workforce of around 750 people.
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