Updated: May 3, 2022: A new name and new era begin on July 1 with the announcement of the Aged & Community Care Providers Association name and livery – main image.
Members of LASA and ACSA have voted to create a single, united organisation to represent
aged care providers.
The new organisation will officially come into force from 1 July 2022, replacing LASA and
ACSA as representative organisations.
LASA Chair Dr Graeme Blackman AO FTSE FAICD said the decision was a landmark for
the aged care sector.
“This decision heralds a new era for Australia’s aged care sector with a single industry
association to provide a strong and united voice, as well as a helping hand, for all providers
of aged care services,” Dr Blackman said.
The Aged Care Royal Commission recommended greater collaboration and a unified
leadership representing providers of residential care, home and community care and
retirement living for older Australians.
ACSA Chair Adjunct Professor Stephen Cornelissen said the decision meant age care sector representation can move forward confidently as it advocates on behalf of hundreds of members around Australia.
“We know from the Royal Commission that the aged care sector faces enormous challenges
as it undertakes reform and what is needed is the strongest possible representation to take
our sector forward,” Prof Cornelissen said.
Updated May 11, 2022:
The newly formed Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) has announced its inaugural Board structure, as the new organisation works towards being operational by July 2022.
Members of the new 15-strong Board have appointed Dr Graeme Blackman AO FTSE FAICD as Chair, with Cherylee Treloar, CEO at Footprints Community, Queensland, appointed Deputy Chair.
“It’s an honour to be elected as ACCPA’s first-ever Board Chair,” Dr Blackman said.
“The formation of ACCPA is the first step towards a more unified industry, with a single and strong voice able to represent all aged care providers. The ACCPA Board will play a pivotal role in ensuring the new organisation provides the governance and leadership that the community clearly expects, and our industry needs, for a sustainable aged care future.”
Ms Treloar said a major focus for the new Board would be the appointment of ACCPA’s first CEO, with an announcement expected in July 2022: “Our new Board is already working hard to find the right leader, one who is able to drive ACCPA through this new era with strong purpose, and a collaborative approach to working with consumers, communities and government. I look forward to representing our sector through this change, and the creation of our new high-performing, trusted industry association.”
Major priorities for the new Board range from setting the governance structure, including the establishment of sub-committees that enable national representation, diversity of experience and promotion of strategic priorities, to forming a Board Committee to oversee Director appointments in the future.
The new association, ACCPA, was announced on 3 May, following a call by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety last year, which recommended greater industry collaboration and unified leadership.
As a result, a transformation committee was formed to help drive change. Members of peak bodies Aged & Community Services Australia (ACSA) and Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) then voted in favour of creating the single industry association at respective Special General Meetings on 29 April, paving the way for the creation of ACCPA by July 2022.
About the ACCPA Board
ACCPA’s 15-strong Foundation Board comprises 10 elected Directors, three independent Directors and two multi-state Directors.
Board appointments range from one to three years; new appointments will be made during a transition process which will be complete by 2024-2025. A detailed transition diagram can be found here. In addition to Dr Graeme Blackman, and Cherylee Treloar, the Directors of the Board are (in alphabetical order):
- Daniel Aitchison, Chief Executive at Clayton Church Homes, South Australia
- Dr Saranne Cooke, Independent Director
- Jackie Howard, CEO at Masonic Care, Tasmania
- Michelle Jenkins, CEO of Community Vision Australia, Western Australia
- Nick Loudon, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Envigor, Queensland
- Lee Martin, CEO and Director of Care at Tanunda Lutheran Home, South Australia
- Linda Mellors, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Regis Aged Care, multi-state Director
- Robert Orie, Chief Executive Officer of Montefiore, New South Wales
- Sue Peden AM, Independent Director
- Kerri Rivett, Chief Executive of Royal Freemasons
- Mark Sewell, CEO at Warrigal, New South Wales
- Stephen Muggleton, Group CEO at Bolton Clarke
- Shane Yensch, Executive Director at Alinea Inc., Western Australia
