Two Leading Community Service Providers to Amalgamate

Media Release

January 2013-01-16

The Boards of Tandem Respite Inc and Home Help Service ACT Ltd (HHS) are
very pleased to announce their joint decision to proceed with an
amalgamation of the two organisations, to take effect from 1 July 2013.

The Chairman of Home Help Service ACT, Mr Ron Jelleff, said "The primary
goal of both Boards has always been to ensure the long term
sustainability of our organisations and to continually improve the
services that our organisations provide to our clients in the ACT
community." He said that the new merged organisation will continue to
provide all of the services now provided by the separate bodies to those
who are frail aged or disabled, and to their families and carers.

The President of Tandem, Mr Peter Gordon, said, "The two organisations
already work productively together, and have very similar sets of values
and commitment to the community." He said following the amalgamation
clients will be able to access from within the one organisation
whichever services they need to help maintain a fulfilling life within
the community.

The decision to amalgamate followed extensive analysis of potential
benefits and risks of an amalgamation. Mr Jelleff and Mr Gordon said "
As a result of the processes we followed we have great confidence in the
decision to unite Tandem and Home Help Service, and in the successful
future of the new organisation."

Both Mr Gordon and Mr Jelleff said " We are determined that no client
will be disadvantaged by the amalgamation, and that existing services
will continue with any reduction in their high quality of care." They
also said that clients will also benefit from enhanced economies of
scale. They said the new organisation will take all opportunities to
reduce costs of administering the services they provide. " This will
also help to contain future increases in charges to clients, and help
the organisation meet the challenges of future years brought about by
the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and
aged care reforms", they said.

The current range of services provided by Tandem and Home Service ACT
include in-home and community based respite, personal care, social
support, case management, domestic assistance Including major cleans,
home modifications, home and garden maintenance, and linen services.
Between them, both organisations provide services to over 4,500 clients
in the ACT.

ENDS
For further information Contact:

Richard Bialkowski
Cheryl Pollard
CEO Home Help Service ACT
CEO Tandem
Phone: 6126 9300 or 0438 048 099
Phone: 6287 2870 or 0413 459 166