HammondCare open regional office in Lismore CBD

An established aged care provider has set up shop in the old National Australia site on Molesworth Street. Here are the details.

Lismore received a visit on Wednesday from the former NSW Premier and CEO of HammondCare, Mike Baird to announce the service will be moving in to Lismore.

The shopfront on Molesworth Street, which was previously a Covid vaccination clinic was totally submerged in the floods earlier this year, will open to the public after an extensive refit as the provider’s regional headquarters.

CEO and former NSW Premier Mike Baird said it is a huge vote of confidence in the future of Lismore.

“We strongly support the people of Lismore and HammondCare is delighted to be a part of this process of helping this wonderful town rebuild,” Mr Baird said.

“We will be investing here in the Lismore CBD and we have a new office right behind us that’s going in to house initially 55 staff and even up to an additional 30 care staff and it will keep growing,” Mr Baird said.

Left: HammondCare CEO Mike Baird with Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg at the announcement of HammondCare regional office in Molesworth Street. Picture Kelvin Bissett

HammondCare At Home already has an office in Kyogle but with approximately 100 clients in Lismore they made the move to open an office here.

Mr Baird also handed over a $10,000 donation to Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg towards the Lismore Flood Appeal.

Mr Krieg said HammondCare’s decision would help boost the growing positive mood about Lismore’s future.

“What a wonderful endorsement for the future of Lismore to have an organisation like HammondCare open here,” Mr Krieg said.

“It’s the goal of Council to encourage new businesses to join us to contribute to the renewed activity that is going in the CBD.”

When the floods affected HammondCare clients and staff, the charity fundraising arm of the provider raised $85,000 to help them.

South Lismore based care worker Gabriel Hooper, 29, remains unable to move back with his family into their Rhodes Street home and they don’t expect to for months.

Mr Hooper held onto his roof guttering before managing to get onto the roof as he waited to be rescued.

HammondCare case care worker Gabriel Hooper holding onto his roof in Rhodes Street South Lismore in the 2022 floods. Picture: supplied.

He had got his family out to safety but stayed to care for the family pets.

“We only just bought our home, and moved in on New Year’s Eve,” Mr Hooper said.

He said although it’s a challenging time for many he knows they will get the work they need done to fix their home.

“We look forward to moving back,” he said.

“The support of HammondCare over the past few months – both financial and emotional – has been so important to me and my family.”

He is back at work as a caseworker helping clients three days a week and looking forward to returning to work full time soon.

General Manager of HammondCare, Bay Warburton said his staff, including Mr Hooper, were looking forward to supporting more older people in the Lismore region.

“It’s exciting to be able to serve the older people of Lismore and to support them to have quality of life in their own homes,” Mr Warburton said.