annecto are delighted to announce the commencement of formal discussions regarding the merging of Merrimu with annecto to align our common interests, strengths, and purpose.
About Merrimu
For the past 40 years Merrimu have worked with children and adults with a physical, sensory or intellectual disability, and their families and their support people in Ballarat, Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Melton and Werribee.
Through planning, support and mentoring Merrimu find the pathways to achieve what is important to them in volunteering, education or skills-based learning, healthy lifestyles and social activity.
Merrimu has just under 130 staff and an annual turnover of $4.9 million, and supports around 200 people with government funding including DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services), TAC (Transport Accident Commission), WorkCover and NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme). Like annecto, Merrimu is a membership-based community organisation.
There are a number of great reasons why Merrimu is proposing to join up with annecto.
The consumer-led reforms within aged and community care and the introduction of the NDIS ensures greater inclusion and choice in the lives of people with disability and older people.
Through this merger annecto is responding to these reforms to increase opportunities for the people we support. These include:
- the pooling of resources, knowledge, practice and skills, governance arrangements and operational activities to improve the efficiency, quality and scope of our combined services,
- helping us access new networks and markets for people needing support, and
- enabling greater flexibility and responsiveness to all clients
- benefits for the people we support, their families and their carers, through providing greater value for money, and increasing access to knowledge and 24/7 support.
By developing a strong merger, Merrimu and annecto will first and foremost ensure the continuity of supports and services enjoyed by all clients, and especially those people living in the greater western growth corridor, regional centres and rural communities.
annecto and Merrimu senior staff and Boards are yet to determine the full details of the merger. However, both organisations will consult with clients, families, carers and other stakeholders through facilitated conversations. This will give people the opportunity to have a say about what they want from a newly-merged organisation.
