SERVICES
MERGE UNDER OPERATION OF
ST JOHN OF GOD HEALTH CARE
The
Australian health services of St John of God Health Care and the health
and disability services operated by the Hospitaller Order of St John of
God in Australia and New Zealand have merged.
St John of God Health Care, Australia’s largest Catholic not for
profit private health care group, assumed operational responsibility for
all services on 1 July 2007.
St John of God Health Care now employs 8,000 people, working across 14
hospitals (with approximately 2,000 beds), a community hospice, pathology
services and a wide range of social outreach activities in Australia,
New Zealand, and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
The services in New South Wales, Victoria and New Zealand that have joined
St John of God Health Care are:
- St John of God Health Services in Sydney, comprising two private psychiatric hospitals – at Burwood and Richmond – and Casa Venegas, a Sydney based outreach service for homeless people with mental health problems.
- St John of God Services Victoria, a major disability service providing day, accommodation, respite, employment and outreach services supporting over 500 people with disabilities from 38 locations across metropolitan Melbourne.
- St John of God Health & Disabilities Services Trust, in Christchurch, New Zealand – which has 51 hospital beds and 10 community beds and provides residential and transitional care services for people under the age of 65 with acquired brain injuries and physical and neurological disabilities.
- St John of God Waipuna Youth & Community Services Trust, also in Christchurch, which is a social service agency providing young people (aged 14-25), and parents and mums under 25, and their families with support and opportunities.
St
John of God Health Care’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Michael
Stanford, said there would be no change to staffing and management at
each of the services because of the merger. “We are honoured to welcome
these significant services, which are highly regarded, into the St John
of God
Health Care group,” he said.
“In terms of these services it will be business as usual, with the
important addition that we are committed to expanding and developing services
to ensure they remain at the forefront of service quality and continue
to meet community health care needs.
“The merger is consistent with our broader strategy of supporting
the Catholic sector to remain vital and vibrant, as well as growing our
psychiatric services and social outreach activities. It is an inspiring
example of Catholic health sector groups collaborating to ensure the sustainability
of much needed and valued services in the interests of the community,”
Dr Stanford said.
“We believe that our common goals and our commitment to working together
to bring unity and strength to all services will bring current and future
benefits to the patients, clients and communities we serve throughout
Australia, New Zealand and our broader region.”
St John of God Health Care
www.sjog.org.au
