Garden Village announces that Craig Wearne will conclude his tenure as Chief Executive Officer on 31 July 2026, after nine years of dedicated service to our community.
Craig joined Garden Village in 2017, bringing 30 years of experience in aged care and health management. Throughout his tenure, he oversaw the strategic direction, financial management, master planning and operational innovation of the organisation, guiding Garden Village through a period of significant growth and change in the aged care sector.
Under Craig’s leadership, Garden Village kept pace with the evolving needs of retirees seeking independent living close to the convenience of the Port Macquarie CBD. He spearheaded the successful opening of The Cascades, Port Macquarie’s first vertical retirement living development, and played a key role in securing funding for The Banksia through the Building Better Regions Fund.
His tenure also spanned one of the most significant periods of reform in the aged care sector, during which he guided the organisation’s successful transition to the new Aged Care Act and strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards. This leadership ensured Garden Village remained focused on delivering high-quality care while embracing change.
Another milestone was the launch of Garden Village’s Home Care service, extending the organisation’s support beyond the village to help older people live independently and stay connected in their own homes and communities.
Craig brought a human lens to his leadership, a perspective that shaped Garden Village’s person-centred approach and improved the lives of many people in our community. We thank Craig for his significant contribution to Garden Village and to the broader aged care sector, and we wish him well for the future.
Looking ahead
Gary Dingley is Acting Chief Executive Officer and is leading the organisation with the full support of the Board of Directors. Gary is Garden Village’s Chief Financial Officer, a Chartered Accountant with extensive senior leadership experience across banking, finance and professional services, including as a partner at a Big Four accounting firm. Gary is committed to ensuring the financial health, stability and sustainable growth of Garden Village while our community continues to receive the compassionate, person-centred care it knows and trusts.
The Board has commenced the process to appoint a permanent Chief Executive Officer, and Gary will continue in the acting role in the interim, supported by an experienced senior leadership team – you can meet the team here.
Our focus remains on delivering high-quality, person-centred care for our residents, clients and families across the Port Macquarie–Hastings region.
