History

St John of God Health Care was formed in 1989, bringing together 9 hospitals and services founded by the Sisters of St John of God across Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales into one unified organisation.

Since then, we have grown into one of Australia’s leading not-for-profit Catholic health care providers, expanding through strategic acquisitions and building new facilities to meet the changing needs of our communities.

Our foundations – the Sisters of St John of God

The Congregation of the Sisters of St John of God was founded in Wexford, Ireland, in 1871. Inspired by their patron, Saint John of God, the Sisters dedicated themselves to caring for people experiencing poverty, illness and vulnerability.

Saint John of God devoted his life to alleviating human suffering, and comforted the afflicted, sick and dying in Spain in the 1500s. He was particularly passionate about combating the injustices experienced by people disadvantaged through illness or destitution.

In 1895, Bishop Matthew Gibney of Perth invited the Sisters to Western Australia to provide much needed nursing care. Western Australia was in the midst of a gold boom, and with rapid population growth came typhoid and other diseases.

Eight Sisters of St John of God arrived in Perth from Ireland in November 1895. They commenced home nursing from their convent hospital on Adelaide Terrace, Perth, and within 2 years, the Sisters were running two hospitals on the Eastern Goldfields - Coolgardie (1896-1898) and Kalgoorlie (from 1897). They also opened several schools in Kalgoorlie.

In 1898, they had established their permanent home in Australia at Subiaco, opening a hospital and school. Over the following decades they established several hospitals and schools across Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. They withdrew from teaching in the 1930s to concentrate on delivering compassionate, person centred health care.

By the 1980s, the Sisters of St John of God were operating 9 hospitals, along with pathology and radiology services across Australia. As advances in medicine, shifts in government policy and changes within the Catholic Church reshaped the health care landscape, the Sisters recognised the need for a new governance model.

This led to the formation of St John of God Health Care Inc in 1989, with all services transferring to the new organisation to ensure their health care services and Mission would continue into the future.

Recent history

The 21st century has marked a period of significant growth for St John of God Health Care.

Driven by major redevelopments and strategic acquisitions, hospital capacity has expanded from 1,150 beds in 2002 to more than 3,200 beds in 2026. In response to growing demand for care beyond hospital walls, St John of God Healthcare at Home (formerly Health Choices) was established in 2009.

In 2010, the St John of God Foundation joined the organisation, strengthening our ability to support medical research, innovation and community care through philanthropy and fundraising.

Continuing the Sisters’ commitment to people who are vulnerable, we provide extensive Social Outreach programs including Raphael Centres supporting new parents, Horizon Houses for young people at risk of homelessness, mental health services, and international health initiatives.

In 2015, we expanded into public health care through a partnership with the State Government, building and managing St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals.

Today, St John of God Health Care is one of Australia’s largest Catholic not-for-profit health care providers. We operate 25 facilities, deliver care in the home and disability services, and employ more than 15,000 caregivers across Australia and New Zealand.

Our growth has never altered our purpose. We continue to reflect the wisdom, courage and compassion of the Sisters of St John of God, and the many others who have shaped our journey — carrying their tradition of care and Mission forward for future generations.