Media Centre

Baptcare and Karingal Care have merged

Publish Date: 11/06/2008
Author: Marketing and Communications Dept.

Baptcare and Tasmanian based Karingal Care Services confirmed their merge on June 11th. The new partnership will become effective on the first of July.

The merger follows discussions between Baptcare and Karingal in February this year regarding opportunities for long-term mutual benefit. The resulting merger will ensure the long-term security of Karingal and add to Baptcare’s reputation as a provider of quality aged care services.

Both organisations are not-for-profit and part of Baptist Care Australia, the peak body charged with progressing Baptist care across Australia.

Baptcare CEO Jeff Davey welcomed the partnership and said Baptcare had much to gain as a result.

“We are extremely excited to extend our aged care services beyond Victoria for the first time. Baptcare and Karingal have strong synergies in regards to their focus on providing the highest quality care for their aged residents and clients, and we look forward to working with Karingal’s staff to enhance this reputation,” Mr Davey said.

Karingal Care Services Board Chairman Ron Dell said the decision to merge was based on the belief that the long-term security of Karingal, its staff and residents was best served by joining with Baptcare in order to maintain Karingal’s reputation for providing individualised care within the Devonport community.

"The merger will mean extra resources in the areas of learning, development and people services - all of which are difficult for a small organisation such as Karingal to achieve on its own," Mr Dell said.

Mr Dell said that while Karingal was in a sound financial position with a small surplus, it was clear to the Board that responsible management was vital to ensure the long-term future of the organisation. Karingal has more than 120 residents at its aged care facility and also operates the Orana Respite and Day Centre in East Devonport.

Baptcare provides services to the elderly, children, families, people with a disability and asylum seekers. Baptcare began with one aged care facility in 1945, and now employs 780 staff that care for close to 2,000 individuals a day through a combination of residential aged care, community aged care, family and disability support services, and accommodation for asylum seekers.