LASA and ACSA set merger date
Aged care peaks LASA and ACSA are to unite to become a new, single entity.
Leading Age Services Australia and Aged and Community Services Australia are to unite in two months to become one peak body.
The new – as yet un-named – organisation will replace LASA and ACSA as representative bodies for the aged care sector from 1 July.
Voted overwhelmingly by the organisations’ membership, the move follows the royal commission’s recommendations for greater collaboration and a unified leadership representing providers of aged care and retirement living services.
“This vote is an historic result for LASA and ACSA and for the aged care sector more broadly,” LASA CEO Sean Rooney told Australian Ageing Agenda. “It marks the start of a new era for Australian aged care representation with the creation of a united, single industry association.”
The commitment to form a new, single entity dates back to 2021 when ACSA – which represents not-for-profit and mission-based providers – and LASA agreed to unite.
In February, LASA, ACSA and other industry bodies established a steering committee to develop a new sector representation model that is inclusive of all providers.
Described as a landmark move for the industry, the decision to consolidate will give the new body greater clout as it advocates on behalf of hundreds of members across Australia, said Mr Rooney.
“It’s an exciting step which paves the way for stronger and more influential aged care sector representation as we undertake challenging sector reform with the aim of achieving the care that older Australians need and deserve,” he said.
The vote to merge was held last Friday and the new board will hold its inaugural meeting on 9 May.
Chair of the steering committee to oversee a new unified aged care industry association Claewen Little told AAA the decision to merge was “a very important moment” for the industry.
“It presents us with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build on our combined strengths so that we can continue to work toward significant reform and create a world-class system of care for older Australians and the people that support them,” said Ms Little.
“It is an exciting time, we have much work ahead of us to shape the new organisation, and I encourage the whole sector to get behind this change,” she added
Further details about the new organisation will be announced in the coming weeks.
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