For Goodwin, People First is the principle that shapes how the organisation cares, listens, works and plans for the future.
Across retirement living, residential care, home care, allied health and community-based services, Goodwin’s focus is on the people behind every interaction – residents and clients, their families, employees and the broader communities it serves.
Goodwin CEO Stephen Holmes says putting people first means recognising that there is no single definition of ageing well.
“People First starts with listening. Every person has their own story, priorities and idea of what a good life looks like. Our role is to understand what matters to them and provide the support, choice and connection that helps them live that life with confidence.”
That thinking is central to Goodwin’s future direction.
Goodwin’s recently launched five-year Strategic Plan 2026–2031 sets a clear ambition for the organisation to be The Place to Be for residents and clients, for employees and for the community.
At its heart is a commitment to create experiences that feel personal, connected and responsive. For residents and clients, that means having greater choice, being treated with dignity and knowing that the people around them understand what matters most. For families, it means confidence that their loved one is supported by people who care about the quality of everyday life, not just the services being delivered.
It also reflects an important truth: exceptional aged care depends on exceptional people.
Goodwin’s nurses, carers, lifestyle teams, allied health professionals, hospitality employees, maintenance teams and many others build relationships that can make an everyday interaction meaningful. Whether helping someone remain independent at home, supporting a resident through change, creating opportunities for social connection or simply taking the time to listen, People First is experienced in the moments that matter.
Goodwin is also investing in the people who deliver that experience. Building capability, supporting learning and creating workplaces where employees feel valued are essential to delivering high-quality care and services over the long term. When employees feel supported to do their best work, residents and clients feel the difference.
“People want to feel known, respected and genuinely supported,” Mr Holmes says. “That applies equally to the people who choose Goodwin for their care or lifestyle, and to the people who choose to build their careers with us.”
People First also extends beyond Goodwin’s own services. As a long-standing Canberra organisation, Goodwin continues to support community connection through partnerships, events and initiatives that help people stay active, involved and connected at every stage of later life.
For more than 70 years, Goodwin has been part of the Canberra community. Today, its commitment remains distinctly human: people supporting older Australians to live well.
That is what Goodwin wants people to experience in every conversation, every service and every interaction – and it is what visitors will see reflected at this year’s COTA Exhibition.
Come and meet the people behind Goodwin at the COTA Exhibition and discover what “People First” looks like in practice.
