MEDIA RELEASE 8 May 2013: Two leading ACT community service providers merge

Media Release 8 May 2013

POSITIONED FOR NDIS SUCCESS - Two leading ACT community service
providers merge


At the General Meetings of Members held on Wednesday 24 April, the
resolution to amalgamate Tandem Respite Inc and Home Help Service ACT
Ltd was unanimously passed, leading to the creation of one of the
largest and most responsive providers of community and in-home services
in Canberra on 1 July 2013, ahead of the first stage of the rollout for
the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Staff from both organisations are already working well together towards
the transition, ensuring the merger fulfils its potential to provide an
enhanced array of services to the community while building the new
organisation's capacity and resources.

The new merged organisation will continue to provide all of the services
currently being provided by the separate bodies including in-home and
community based respite, personal care, social support, case management,
domestic assistance (including major cleans, home modifications and home
and garden maintenance) and linen services. Clients will be able to
access from within the one organisation whichever of these services they
need to help maintain a fulfilling life within the community.

Both Boards have since announced their joint decision to appoint the
current Chief Executive Officer of Tandem, Ms Cheryl Pollard, as the
inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the new merged organisation, to
take effect from 1 July 2013. Ms Pollard is a highly regarded senior
executive with extensive experience in the ACT community sector, and the
capacity to unite Tandem and Home Help Service into a single and
successful social enterprise well able to meet the challenges of future
years brought about by the introduction of the NDIS and aged care
reforms.



ENDS
For further information, contact:

Ron Jelleff
Peter Gordon
Chairman, Home Help Service ACT
President, Tandem Respite Inc
PH 6282 6313
PH 0417 064 767