The Not For Profit arm of the Uniting Church in Western Australia has signalled plans to grow its regional presence with its first acquisition since CEO Russell Bricknell joined the organisation in December last year – and another on the way.
Juniper will take ownership of the 18-bed Waratah Lodge (pictured below), previously operated by Wagin Frail Aged Inc, in Wagin, 225km southeast of Perth in WA’s Wheatbelt region, as of 1 October 2023.
“We’re a fairly substantial provider of services in regional WA,” Russell told The Weekly SOURCE. “So there is an economy of scale that we’re looking at potentially in the context of nursing provision.”
Juniper’s existing 26-bed Katanning home is only 30 minutes from Wagin.
However, Russell says there is also a need for larger operators to keep the doors of smaller services open for local communities.
“Our view is that the regional services in our portfolio will grow over the coming years because there needs to be a commitment to older people,” he stated.
“There are a number of small operators in country WA and if they disappear, you then must relocate people into the greater Perth area away from their family and community, and that’s a big shift.”
Juniper already has a footprint in the Great Southern and Wheatbelt regions of WA with aged care homes in Katanning (Juniper Bethshan), Albany (Juniper Korumup), and Northam (Juniper Bethavon and The Residency) as well as home care services based in Northam and a retirement village located in Albany.
Russell said the provider is also in the process of acquiring a site in metropolitan Perth.
“For us, what’s more important is fit,” he said. “So we will look at opportunities as they come up, but they need to fit with us strategically and our values point of view.”
Juniper currently has 2,100 staff supporting over 4,500 West Australians across its 25 aged care homes, 11 retirement villages and home care services.
The SOURCE: With compliance requirements only increasing, many standalone operators will be looking to exit – and not all will find a ‘Juniper’ to continue delivering their services to local communities.
