Ozcare appoints new CEO from close quarters
Ozcare is an organisation "ready for change", says incoming CEO Kevin Mercer.
Kevin Mercer has been appointed CEO of Ozcare after acting in the role for four months.
Former CEO Tony Godfrey announced in August he would not renew his contract after 12 years in the role. The Not For Profit provides aged care, retirement living, hospital, disability care, respite care, nursing, allied health and dementia advisory and support services.
The appointment means Kevin will leave his role as CEO of St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland, which established Ozcare in 1996. Not For Profit Ozcare remains a 'special work' of the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland.
The appointment marks a return to aged care for Kevin. Before joining St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland, he spent 10 years as a senior aged care executive, initially as CEO of home care operator Holy Spirit Care Services, and then as Chief Executive Aged and Community Care with residential aged care provider Mercy Health Australia.
Godfrey said his transition period at Ozcare "has shown me an organisation ready for change. Together, we are well-positioned to build on Ozcare’s legacy and embrace the opportunities ahead,” Ozcare Board Chair, Robert Baker, said.
Ozcare offers a wide range of services for older people, with 19 residential aged care facilities, eight retirement villages, and in 2024-25 delivered 3,740 Home Care Packages.
In 2024-25, Ozcare's operating profit rose 31% to $31.8 million on an 11% increase in revenue of $516 million.
During the year, Ozcare acquired a 140-bed aged care facility in Townsville, refurbished Ozcare Innisfail, and launched a Foreign Care Assistant Training Program to address staff shortages.
Kevin's appointment is effective 5 January 2025.
