Better Together: Leading Regional Care Providers Announce Amalgamation

Kirinari and LiveBetter Community Services have today announced they will amalgamate to form Australia’s largest regional provider of human services.

From today, Kirinari and LiveBetter will operate as one organisation to deliver disability, aged care, housing, children and youth, allied health, community nursing and transport, and carer services to more than 15,000 customers across regional and remote NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria.

“This is a great outcome for our LiveBetter communities and regional Australia more broadly,” LiveBetter CEO, Natalie Forsyth-Stock, said.

“Given our long history serving our community, a decision like this was never going to be an easy one, but I am convinced that it is absolutely the right one. The current funding environment for community services demands the scale that this amalgamation delivers.”

“In joining with Kirinari, we are providing certainty and confidence to our customers and communities that they will continue to receive the essential support they need to thrive in the regional areas they call home.”

“The LiveBetter Board and I strongly believe we have found in Kirinari a strategic alliance and a safe pair of hands to deliver that certainty,” Ms Forsyth-Stock said.

Ms Forsyth-Stock will step aside from today, and CEO of Kirinari, Diane Lynch, will become CEO of LiveBetter.

Kirinari was established in the early 1980s and has almost 1,400 employees across regional New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.

LiveBetter was established in Orange in New South Wales in the 1980s, and today operates in over 50 locations across Australia, employing approximately 1,300 staff.

“A coming together of Kirinari and LiveBetter – two leading organisations with one shared purpose – will see us be a pillar of support for regional and remote communities, ensuring that quality care is accessible to everyone, no matter where they live,” Kirinari Chief Executive Officer, Diane Lynch, said.

“At Kirinari, we are committed to a good life for all; no matter where you live or what life cycle you’re in.”

Each organisation will continue to operate under their respective names while they integrate services and operations. The Board of LiveBetter will be dissolved; Director, Dr Steve Peterson, will stay on to support the transition.

“I want to assure all customers that the high-quality care they receive from LiveBetter and Kirinari will remain the same, and the staff and familiar faces they know and trust will continue to look after them,” Ms Lynch said.

As one organisation, Kirinari and LiveBetter are committed to delivering care to those living with disability in the regions, and those in need of community care and services.

“Our commitment to empowering people to lead good lives and reach their full potential is stronger than ever,” Ms Lynch said.

ENDS –
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