Australia’s leading in-home care specialist Silverchain Group has officially celebrated its 130th anniversary, marking the organisation’s unwavering commitment to bring specialised care directly to people’s homes.
Speaking after an event at Government House Adelaide on Thursday night, Silverchain Group Board Chair Anne Skipper AM said the organisation was grateful for the pioneering efforts of its founders in the late 1800s when they first recognised the need for a nursing service that many people could not otherwise access.
“Over many decades, as Australians endured two world wars, the Great Depression and a rapidly changing world, Silverchain Group’s dedicated care teams remained steadfast in their focus on delivering a high standard of care in innovative ways, while also ensuring that more people could access high quality care at home,” Ms Skipper said.
Our chain of care began in 1894 when visionary leaders including Dr Allan Campbell, Miss Edith Noble, and Rev B.C. Stephenson addressed an urgent need for skilled nursing care in South Australia by establishing the District Trained Nursing Society. This set the foundations of what would become the Royal District Nursing Service (known today as RDNS Silverchain).
Across the Nullarbor, journalist Muriel Chase, started a campaign in 1905 through her Western Mail newspaper column in WA to encourage her young readers to support the less fortunate. These charitable children became known as The Silver Links. Muriel’s remarkable efforts led to the creation of the Silver Chain League and the employment of WA’s first district nurse, Sister S.L. Copley. Muriel's significant contributions are the origins of the Silverchain name which our national organisation shares today.
Silverchain Group Chief Executive Dale Fisher AM said our pioneering spirit was evident throughout the organisation’s history, including the ground-breaking initiatives in the early 1980s to become the first in Australia to offer end-of-life care services in the home.
“Our palliative care services in Adelaide and Perth have helped generations of Australians to die in the comfort of their own home,” Ms Fisher said. “This is just one example of how Silverchain Group has continued to deliver on our Best Care promise: care that is safe, personalised, connected and effective.”
Ms Fisher said the organisation started its national expansion in 2011 with the merger of RDNS and Silverchain. Services then extended to Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
With the acquisition of KinCare in July this year, Silverchain Group now provides health and aged care services to 140,000 clients a year across Australia and employs 5,900 people including nurses, doctors, allied health, care experts and researchers.
“For 130 years, our clients have welcomed us into their communities. Our committed care and clinical teams have championed our clients’ independence, their right to choose where they're cared for, and supported their health and wellbeing,” Ms Fisher said.
Ms Fisher said that with its strong legacy of pioneering care delivery, Silverchain was committed to applying new and emerging technologies to shape the way our compassionate care teams deliver care to people in the comfort of their home.
“We have developed partnerships with universities throughout Australia, as well as with international care leaders, to drive innovation in home care and develop improved models of care for the future of the health and aged care systems,” Ms Fisher said.
“We are working with global leaders in health care technology to develop an innovative virtual care monitoring system and have expanded the use of smart glasses. These are just a few examples of how we're shaping the next generation of care in the home.”
Silverchain’s 130th anniversary celebration at Government House Adelaide on Thursday 26 September 2024 and was hosted by the Governor of South Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC.
Discover more about our 130 years of care, connection and innovation.
