UnitingCare Ageing NSWACT makes senior housing appointment

UnitingCare Ageing NSWACT has appointed Keith Merchant to be the new director of its independent living and housing portfolio.

It is the first time the organisation has had someone employed at a corporate level to oversee this area of its businesss.

Mr Merchant comes to UnitingCare from the Salvation Army’s Aged Care Plus division where he spent four years as service development manager.

In his new role, he will be standardising processes for UnitingCare’s 3,000 independent living units spread across 79 sites.

“The purpose of the role is to look strategically at the product we are offering to the market and to make sure it is relevant – and to adjust it where it is not relevant,” he said.

“We have conducted focus groups of various residents and seen what their needs are. What they’re saying to us is that they want choice in terms of services whether they are living in independent living, rental accommodation or their own homes.

“We believe that by reshaping our buildings and the operating models that they work under, we will be able to deliver that link between services and accommodation,” said Mr Merchant.

The provider also plans to be involved in the development of new models of integrated communities. UnitingCare Ageing is currently bidding for funding under the Federal Government’s National Rental Affordability Scheme and through the recent stimulus package and Mr Merchant said the organisation is “extremely hopeful”.