12 November 2021
Western Downs Regional Council and Southern Cross Care Queensland (SCCQ) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the pending transfer of Council’s aged and community care facilities and services to be managed by SCCQ in 2022.
The official signing follows Council’s decision to appoint SCCQ as managers of Tarcoola Residential Aged Care Facility in September 2021, and progression towards a MOU for Tarcoola, as well as Carinya Residential Aged Care Facility in Miles and the Council-run Community Home Care Services and associated assets.
SCCQ Chief Executive Officer Jason Eldering said this marked a really positive step forward in SCCQ’s partnership with Council to ensure the long-term viability of quality compassionate aged and community care in the Western Downs.
“As a values-based, not-for-profit provider of care and services to older Queenslanders for more than 40 years, SCCQ has an established footprint in rural and regional communities. We will leverage this experience to ensure the positive growth and future of aged care in all communities we serve, including Tara” Mr Eldering said.
“We respect and understand the important role that aged and community services play especially in the regions, and we are committed to bringing partnerships and sustainability to the community.”
Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Paul McVeigh said the signing of the MOU marked a significant milestone in the ongoing partnership, which would offer certainty moving forward.
“Council has already been working closely with SCCQ as part of a separate management agreement for Tarcoola, and it has been excellent to see the team working closely with the Tarcoola family and becoming part of the local community.
“The official signing of the MOU is the next step in bringing a new and improved level of aged and community care to the region, and negotiations are well underway.
“Council has been working hard for many years to secure a specialist provider to grow and improve health services in the Western Downs, and we are delighted to have such a respected provider like SCCQ progressing formal negotiations with us.”
Southern Cross Care Queensland employs more than 1000 staff and provides services to more than 1400 Queenslanders across 11 aged care facilities and five retirement villages, as well as those receiving in-home care. The organisation already operates the nearby residential aged care facility, Illoura in Chinchilla, in the Western Downs.
L – R: SCCQ CEO Jason Eldering, Mayor Paul McVeigh, SCCQ Illoura Village Residential Manager Lance Payne
