Nambucca Valley aged care facilities to change hands

THE ownership of NVC Group’s residential aged care homes and retirement villages will be transferred to not-for-profit aged care provider Respect Group in the coming months.

According to a statement from NVC Group, the transfer will be carried out through a “structured and well-supported transition process, with a strong emphasis on maintaining continuity for residents and preserving employment for current staff”.

The following NVC assets will be transferred:

– Riverside Gardens, a 97-bed residential aged care home in Nambucca Heads.

– Autumn Lodge, a 95-bed residential aged care home in Macksville.

– Cedar Place, a 66-bed residential aged care home in Kempsey.

– Fairway Gardens, a 38-unit retirement village in Macksville.

– Riverside Gardens, a 55-unit retirement village in Nambucca Heads.

– Lakeside Gardens, a 32-unit retirement village in Macksville.

The decision comes less than a year after NVC Group celebrated 50 years providing aged care services in the region.

In a letter to members, NVC Group Chair Janine Reed said the decision had been taken after “lengthy consideration of all the factors required to maintain the best interests of our residents and staff into the future”.

“You would already be aware that, despite continued efforts by staff and management, NVC has not been able to produce a financial surplus for several years now,” she wrote.

“There are several factors involved, including the high and increasing additional costs of complying with more and more government regulations.”

Ms Reed stated that around 350 of NVC Group’s staff will be retained with no loss of status or entitlements, from a total of around 440.

NVC will continue operating its home and community care division and NV College.

The purchaser of the sites, Respect, runs 36 aged care homes and over 600 retirement living units across five states.

CEO and Managing Director Jason Binder said Respect is committed to building on NVC’s local legacy.

“NVC was founded by locals who believed older people should never have to leave their community to receive the care they need. That same belief is what drives Respect.

“Our homes were also built by people who wanted to make sure their parents and grandparents could age with dignity, close to family in the communities that they helped to build.

“Bringing NVC into the Respect family means that proud community tradition will not only continue but be strengthened for future generations,” said Mr Binder.

In a statement to media, Ms Reed said Respect has demonstrated “capacity and integrity to strengthen the delivery” of local aged care services.

“It (Respect) has the financial and governance structure to support the retention and growth of residential aged care and retirement living services in the Nambucca and Macleay valleys,” she said.

Local residents were quick to voice their displeasure with the sale on social media, highlighting a lack of notice for staff and residents, no local representation on the board, and limited consultation with members about the sale.

The transition is expected to be finalised on 1 October 2025.