Aged Care

Only in SATURDAY: how aged care shifted in the first half of 2025?

Jul 24 2025 Updated 10 hours ago

Caroline Egan

1 min read

In the latest edition of SATURDAY, DCM Group Editor Lauren Broomham looks back over a six-month period marked by a cocktail of reform uncertainty, consolidation, and bold moves from new players looking to shake things up.

What mattered most?

Find out in SATURDAY. If you're not already a subscriber, click here.

The law is an ass – and it has cost Lifestyle Communities $1.5 billion and counting

The tribunal in Victoria has ruled the contract requirement of departing residents from land lease operator Lifestyle Communities is void based on a legal/legislative wording, despite residents being well informed when they signed that contract...

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Chris Baynes

15 Jul 2025

Government Policy

Elderly couple conduct their own observations as Single Assessment System moves to phone calls to clear backlog

Assessment organisations, which have operated under the Single Assessment System (SAS) since 1 January 2025, are conducting assessments by phone or Telehealth to clear significant backlogs. Older Person’s Advocacy Network CEO Craig Gear OAM said, roadblocks in the SAS must be urgently addressed.

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Caroline Egan

16 Jul 2025

Mergers & Acquisitions

RSL Care SA buys Hallmont Estate’s two retirement villages in Mount Gambier, SA

The Not For Profit organisation, which operates retirement living, social housing and residential care in South Australia, has bought Woodlands Grove and Hallmont Estate Mount Gambier, in the second most populous city in the state, which lies 450km...

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Ian Horswill

22 Jul 2025

Legal Issues

Ingenia Communities and ABC’s Adele Ferguson on VCAT’s voiding of Lifestyle Communities’ DMFs

Ingenia Communities Group provides the following update in relation to the Group’s exposure to Deferred Management Fee (DMF) contracts across its portfolio. Ingenia has limited exposure to contracts which include a Deferred Management...

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Ian Horswill

14 Jul 2025

Quirindi Care Services in NSW’s Northern Region set to be part of Apollo Care’s network

With costs increasing and compliance pressures rising, Quirindi Care Services, which operates Eloura aged care home 350km northwest of Sydney, will vote today (14 July) on a takeover by specialist aged care provider Apollo Care.

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Caroline Egan

23 Jul 2025

Mergers & Acquisitions

Illawarra home care provider Community Gateway merges with Sydney-based Clever Care Now

Not For Profit disability and home care provider Community Gateway has merged with Clever Care Now, formerly Nurses on Wheels. Deborah De Santis, CEO Community Gateway, said, “We are super excited about the growth opportunities provided by this amalgamation.“

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Caroline Egan

23 Jul 2025

Mergers & Acquisitions

Australian Unity triples customer base buying allied health provider Plena Healthcare

Australia’s largest home care provider, Australian Unity, has acquired mobile allied health services provider Plena Healthcare, which operates nationwide, from Zenitas Healthcare for $70 million. The merged businesses will have more than 160,000 customers annually, compared with Australian Unity’s 50,000 in 2023-24 and employ over 6,700 people.

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Caroline Egan

23 Jul 2025