HammondCare CEO Mike Baird describes his three-and-a-half years in the aged care sector the toughest in his career or lifetime. Now, for the first time, he says he can see hope, and it is time to move forward with ambition and ‘wonder’.

Speaking at the ACCPA National Conference in October and a follow-up interview with SATURDAY, he says it’s been a tough time that has shaken leaders, and naturally resulted in senior teams looking inwards trying to get through each day rather than thinking long-term and opportunities.

Aged care sunrise

But now he points