WA community care providers combine services

The merger of Perth-based not-for-profit organisations Care Options, Community First and Volunteer Task Force will create a new service provider that will employ more than 400 staff and service over 10,000 clients.

“The integration of Care Options with Volunteer Task Force and Community First provides us with an exciting opportunity to build on each other’s strengths and grow our services to assist people improve the quality of their lives,” says Care Options Chief Executive, Sheilah Cummings. 

According to Volunteer Task Force Chief Executive, Kath Snell, the decision to merge was a response to Consumer Directed Care and the need to create a sustainable future for each organisation. 

“We are three strong not-for-profits coming together to create a robust, wide-ranging, quality driven, professional and welcoming organisation,” she says. 

Community First Executive Director, David Shelton, adds: “Much has changed in the aged and disability sectors and we are positioning ourselves for success, excellence and accessibility for a greater number of people in this new era.” 

He says the new entity will allow the providers to have an even bigger impact in their shared aim of supporting people to live a better life. “Put simply, in the future we will be able to do more things for more people. 

“Being a larger scale organisation will enable us to invest in state-of-the art systems to drive better efficiencies for lower client costs, and operating over a wider geographic area means that we will be better able to develop new and innovative services,” he continues. 

The combined organisation will offer a range of improved community services, from mental health support to home care and disability services, across the Perth metropolitan and regional areas of WA. Community First will also provide mental health, disability and employment support in various locations. A new name is yet to be announced.