The Murray Bridge Council has announced the sale of Lerwin Residential Care, a facility which has been running in Murray Bridge for more than 40 years.
Roshana Care will take over in the new year, following a direct and confidential approach which sees the aged care provider transition Lerwin from council-owned to private.
In a statement released earlier today, the Council said that all staff will be offered their roles at the Joyce Street site under Roshana Care, guaranteeing no job losses or changes to entitlements.
Existing suppliers and contractors will also remain in place during the transition.
Residents and staff were informed of the decision earlier this morning.
Figures provided by the Council estimate that the facility would have ‘conservatively’ incurred a $18.5 million deficit over the next 10 years, with the sale of Lerwin now to also contribute positively to upcoming budgets.
Murray Bridge Mayor Wayne Thorley says the decision honours the commitment Lerwin made to the community back in 1983.
“In reaching this decision, Council members have reflected on and recognised that we must honour the vision of community members who built the facility more than 40 years ago, ensuring it continues to serve residents well into the future. Roshana Care’s scale, expertise and community focus has given us the confidence that Lerwin will operate efficiently while remaining affordable and maintaining high-quality care and a supportive staff culture,” Mr Thorley said.
“The reality is that operating a standalone residential aged care facility is no longer sustainable for us. We are one of only two councils in SA that is still operating a residential aged care facility. We are not structured as a specialist residential aged care provider and operating a single facility has become operationally and financially unsustainable, with an annual deficit of some $1.6 million.”
