An organisation affiliated with the RSL has bought five nursing homes owned by the Anglican Church in Canberra and on the NSW south coast.
Anglicare, the church's social services agency, has sold the Ginninderra Gardens and Brindabella Gardens facilities in Canberra, as well as three on the NSW south coast. Anglicare has declined to reveal the sale price.
Jeremy Halcrow, chief executive Anglicare
Photo: SuppliedThe church decided to sell the nursing homes mid last year after being told it would not be financially viable for Anglicare to continue operating them.
The sale will include Ginninderra Gardens in Page, which was subject to federal government sanctions in 2012 after inspectors found some residents were malnourished and terminally ill patients were not receiving dignified care.
In a deal announced this week, the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn and the Anglicare board have agreed to transfer the homes to RSL LifeCare.
The sale of the properties is expected to take three months.
RSL LifeCare will upgrade and reopen Ginninderra Gardens, refurbish Brindabella Gardens and redevelop residential care at Bimbimbie as well as provide a dedicated community lounge for residents.
Anglicare chief executive Jeremy Halcrow said in a statement that the south coast facilities included Bimbimbie at Merimbula, Nullica Lodge at Eden and Mariner Park at Tura. Anglicare will continue operating the St David's retirement village in Red Hill, the Brindabella Court operation in Dixon, and another retirement village in Goulburn.
“Last year the board did an extensive review of our aged care operation with the engagement of Ernst and Young and decided that Anglicare either had to grow or go to be viable in the future,” he said.
The five nursing homes that have been sold had been expected to make a $2 million loss this financial year.
Mr Halcrow said the sale would allow Anglicare to focus on the organisation's two core purposes: caring for vulnerable children and helping people overcome poverty.
“One of the most exciting aspects of the arrangement is that it will allow the Anglican Church and Anglicare to continue delivering the existing chaplaincy and pastoral care services to the residents," Mr Halcrow said.
“Our agreement with RSL LifeCare includes the ongoing provision of Anglican chaplaincy arrangements. That was a key factor in getting the Anglican Church’s support for this particular agreement. “
“We will now be in a stronger position to face some of the major policy challenges happening in the community sector.
"One example is the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which requires us to make investments in new IT, finance and care systems,” he said.
RSL LifeCare chief executive Ron Thompson said the arrangement would preserve services for local residents.
“With RSL LifeCare’s involvement comes a commitment to continuing the great service of Anglicare and ensuring the strengthening of future services,” he said.