Omnicare Alliance joint chief executive officers Raymond Gouck and John Carroll said they believe they will gain better access to government funding if they are seen as a united front rather than individual services. The shared vision of the CEOs was to create a larger organisation, establish a one-stop-shop and concierge service to support people through the NDIS and Aged Care systems.

Omnicare Alliance will serve the communities of Port Macquarie, Sawtell, Kempsey, Wauchope, Camden Haven, Taree, and Great Lakes. The merger process began in January and will be complete by August. The Hastings District Respite Care located on Morton Street will be the central hub of the new operation.

Mr Gouck said the merger is going to be one of the key drivers of better quality care in the community. 

“Our objective is to bring together a variety of integrated services to grow quality care in our community regardless of where the funding comes from or what the need is,” he said. 

The CEOs said no staff will be laid off or made redundant through the re-branding process. 

“One of the principal things Raymond and I agreed on when we first were putting together this idea of a merger was that if it would incur major layoffs and redundancies then we wouldn’t do it,” Mr Carroll said. 

“We are creating jobs through the merger.” 

Mr Gouck said Omnicare is going to act as a facilitator, getting people into services, gaining funding for the community and allowing people to choose where funding should be spent.

“Our goal is to look holistically and broadly,” he said. “Let’s look at what is required for our community and how many different types of services they require.”

They believe Omnicare Alliance is set up to meet the challenge of an ageing population.