Respect cements rural presence further

According to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, one in three older Australians live in regional, rural or remote communities, and even though older people make up a greater part of rural populations, fewer aged care services are available to them than their counterparts living in major cities.

Not-for-profit provider Respect has been building on its rural and regional portfolio, announcing its ninth acquisition for 2025 with the takeover of fellow not-for-profit residential care provider Chaffey Aged Care’s 100-bed home in Merbein, in rural Victoria.

The provider now operates 36 aged care homes – including 15 in regional Victoria – across every state except South Australia.

In May, Respect took over ownership of seven BlueCare aged care homes and four co-located retirement villages across Queensland – its first move into the state. It also acquired the Edward Collick Home, Muschamp Village and the home care services of Amana Living in the Kalgoorlie region of Western Australia.

Respect chief executive officer and managing director Jason Binder said they were committed to building on the strong local legacy left by Chaffey Aged Care.

“Like Chaffey Aged Care, we are passionate about delivering exceptional care for older people in rural communities,” he said.

“We are structured to specifically operate regional aged care homes at scale, ensuring first and foremost the highest quality of care, while also maintaining the financial sustainability of regional aged care services. We look forward to welcoming residents, families, and staff into our national organisation, which has a proven record of quality care services, and a commitment to reinvesting in local communities.”

Mr Binder said it was also a more personal development for him, being raised in the nearby South Australian town of Renmark.

“I’m from Renmark, and my pop and uncle owned a sawmill in Merbein, so I have fond memories of both the mill and the town,” he said. “I’ve always loved the river, having grown up on it, and when I visited Merbein last week, I parked by the water and sat there for half an hour. I miss it, and it’s great to now have another location on the Murray, especially down this way where the river is wider. It’s home,” he said.

Angela Gransden, board chair of Rural Care Australia – who operates Chaffey Aged Care alongside a co-located early learning service – said the increasing challenges facing small, standalone aged care homes in regional Australia drove the transition.

“In recent years we have faced workforce shortages, rising costs, and increasing compliance demands,” Ms Gransden said. “Our commitment to providing the highest quality of care has made it unsustainable for us to continue independently. That is why we sought to join a larger not-for-profit organisation to secure our future.”

“We chose Respect because of its values and proven ability to deliver excellent care across its regional communities, while maintaining financial sustainability through its size and capability. It has a strong track record of delivering care in regional areas, and its practical, down-to-earth culture, focus on care, and commitment to staff wellbeing will align with the expectations of the Merbein community.”

Respect is also celebrating the completion of a $4 million redevelopment project at its Woodhaven home – which it acquired in July 2020 – and is inviting the Lockhart community to attend an open day on 22 August from 10am-2pm.

The new wing includes: