Mercy Health and Southern Cross Care (Vic) Join Forces

Mercy Health and Southern Cross Care (Vic) have officially joined forces, creating one of the largest not-for-profit providers of aged and home care services in Australia.

The decision to explore a merger was announced in 2016, and the integration has come to fruition after 18 months of planning, preparation and collaboration.

Mercy Health Group Chief Executive Officer Adjunct Professor Stephen Cornelissen said the organisation was excited to embark on this next chapter in its mission.

“Our dedicated staff have worked tirelessly to help the organisations integrate while continuing to prioritise the needs of our residents and clients,” Adj Prof Cornelissen said.

“Our goal is to grow a more sustainable organisation from which we can continue to provide compassionate, high-quality and affordable care.”

The merger expands Mercy Health’s national aged and home care footprint. In any one year we support and care for almost 3,000 people who live in our 35 aged care homes, partner with more than 8,500 home and community care clients and maintain 409 retirement living units and apartments.

“Our years of experience will enable us to better respond to the changing needs of Australia’s ageing population and public funding arrangements,” Adj Prof Cornelissen explained.

“We’re delighted to welcome Southern Cross Care (Vic) staff to Mercy Health to help us proudly propel the missions of two outstanding Catholic organisations.”

Mercy Health Chief Operating Officer Adjunct Professor Linda Mellors said the integration has involved combining systems, people, policies and processes to support the organisation’s strategy of growth and sustainability.

“Our Southern Cross Care (Vic) teams from Shepparton to Rosebud have been outstanding during the past 18 months and have made sure our transition to one organisation has been a smooth one,” Adj Prof Mellors said.

“We have a long history of providing exceptional care, and we’re committed to continuous improvement for the benefit of our residents and clients, as well as their families and communities.”

The combined organisation achieved integration on 1 July 2018, and is now known as Mercy Health. Southern Cross Care (Vic)’s 12 aged care homes have been rebranded to Mercy Place homes with each site retaining references and recognition of the Southern Cross Care (Vic) heritage.

Find out more about Mercy Health. 

Pictured L-R: Adjunct Professor Stephen Cornelissen, Mercy Health Group CEO; Nilu Morawaka, Mercy Place Keon Park Service Manager and Tom Brodie, Knights of the Southern Cross State Chairman.