National home care provider take over rural operator
- Merger: Life Without Barriers expands through MDHSS merger
- Trend: Home care consolidation gathers pace
- Scale: Provider supports more than 7200 home care clients
- Approval: ACCC clears merger under new rules
The trend towards larger care operators seeking further efficiencies through scale continues.
Not For Profit Life Without Barriers, which has been in operation for more than 30 years and operates across the Australian mainland, has merged with Victorian home care provider Mallacoota District Health and Support Service (MDHSS).
Neil Egan, Executive Lead Life Without Barriers, on behalf of both Life Without Barriers and MDHSS, told The Weekly SOURCE: “MDHSS and Life Without Barriers are partnering to deliver ongoing essential services to the people of Mallacoota.”
Partnerships in the non-government sector are an “invaluable way to build capacity, deepen expertise and create more opportunities to serve the community,” he said.
Over the next few months, Life Without Barriers will be “listening, learning and working alongside the people who know [the Mallacoota] community best.”
Services will continue as usual.
Life Without Barriers’ annual revenue nearly $1 billion
In FY25, Life Without Barriers received Government revenue of nearly $860 million and $870 million in total, reporting a net surplus of $8.5 million.
The operator had 7,288 home care customers and nearly 5,000 FTE staff.
The operator provides Support at Home and Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) services, as well as other community services such as foster care, disability support, mental health assistance, and support for homelessness.
MDHSS also offers a wide range of services, including aged care, disability support and community housing.
The merger was approved by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on 16 June. From 1 January 2026, businesses merging with combined revenue of more than $200 million must gain approval from the ACCC before proceeding.
