In a landmark decision, Arthritis Queensland Ltd and Arthritis NSW have agreed to merge, creating a powerful new alliance called The Arthritis Movement.
The merger, set to take effect on January 1, 2025, aims to deliver enhanced services and stronger advocacy for people living with arthritis across a geographic area covering more than half of Australia’s population.
Alex Green, who currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of both organisations, will become the inaugural CEO of The Arthritis Movement.
“The creation of The Arthritis Movement will result in expanded services and improved support for those living with arthritis. We aim to increase our impact by combining resources with teams based in Queensland and New South Wales, focusing on growing impact through innovative services”
Alex Green, Inaugural CEO, The Arthritis Movemement
The merger has received strong support from both organisations’ leadership.
Nigel Corne, Board Chair of Arthritis NSW, believes that The Arthritis Movement “will enable expanded and enhanced services to be delivered in Qld and NSW and ushers in a new era in helping people living with arthritis.”
Kate Templeman, Board Chair of Arthritis Queensland, highlighted the operational benefits, noting that the merger would “boost operational efficiencies, lower costs and will create a more unified and powerful voice in advocating for the needs of people living with arthritis.”
The Arthritis Movement will operate under a single governance structure, with directors from both organisations combining to form one board. This unified approach builds on the successful collaboration between Arthritis Queensland and Arthritis NSW since 2022, which has already resulted in record fundraising and increased service delivery across both states.
The merger is not expected to result in job losses, and both state offices will continue to function. The new organisation will focus on identifying additional areas of support and advocacy for people living with arthritis while ensuring that donations continue to support local programs in Queensland and New South Wales.
This strategic move represents a significant development in the Australian health sector, potentially setting a precedent for other state-based health organisations to consider similar mergers to enhance their impact and efficiency in service delivery.
