Consultations to date have included 23 forums across the state for employees, clients and families, meetings with other stakeholders, letters and lots of conversations.
CEO, Drew Beswick, said feedback had been very positive, with people excited about the potential for enhanced services and employment opportunities as a result of the merger.
“We are now taking steps to bring OAK and Possability together to form a new organisation, with unified management, processes and systems.
“Changes will be mainly ‘back office’ and it is very much business as usual for our programs and services.”
From the beginning of the merger discussions, the Board and management have been guided by the crucial principle that the merger must benefit clients and employees.
Client benefits will include:
- a wider range of program options
- a stronger Practice Development and Case Management team to support and mentor clients
- an increased ability to deliver a variety of new and innovative programs tailored to client demand
- greater set of staff skills, experience and knowledge to deliver services
- efficiencies and synergies that enable more resources to more directed to client services.
The OAK and Possability brand names will be retained, as they both have strong identities and offer different but complementary services. The organisation as a whole will be known as OAK Possability.