Lyrebird Village transfers providers

Drouin’s Lyrebird Village aged care facility has announced a transfer of providers in a bid to “remain sustainable”.

From Thursday, Lyrebird will be integrated with not-forprofit organisation Respect, a Tasmanian-based company with experience in regional aged care.

Lyrebird’s chairman Mark Biggs said the move was made to ensure the Lyrebird Village’s future.

He said the aged care sector had been under significant pressure due to regulatory requirements and compliance, market forces, COVID-19, and funding pressures and as a result, it became “increasingly difficult” for Lyrebird to remain sustainable as a standalone provider.

“In Respect, we have found an organisation with similar values to ours, with the capacity and capability to provide the necessary resources and investment Lyrebird Village needs to grow and thrive while continuing to provide residential aged care to the Drouin community,” he said.

Mr Biggs said Respect had significant experience in supporting aged care homes in smaller communities, with rural and regional values.

Managing director David Blythman said residents and families were notified of the change last week and met yesterday to discuss the changes.

Staff were sent letters notifying them of the change last week and also had a separate meeting yesterday. He said reactions from staff, residents and families had been “positive”, and the change would not impact staffing at Lyrebird.

Mr Biggs said the Lyrebird board fully supported the transfer and being a part of a larger organisation with greater capacity to invest in systems, staffing and facilities would mean strong aged care services for the Drouin areas.

“We are committed to continuing to provide the level of care and support for our residents the community has come to expect. Being able to do with certainty into the future is a significant outcome for our facility,” he said.

Mr Biggs said while he understood the changes would be challenging for staff, residents and their families, the two organisations were working closely to ensure the transfer occurred as smoothly as possible.

Managing director of Respect Jason Binder said the organisation looked forward to continuing “the excellent work of Lyrebird” in the Drouin community.

“As an organisation with a regional focus, we understand the importance of community to a facility such as Lyrebird, and, in turn, the role an aged care facility like Lyrebird plays in its community.”

Respect operates a number of aged care facilities and retirement homes in Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria.