The shock and concern following the announcement that Inverell based McLean Care would be exiting the aged care business continue to ripple through the community, with calls for greater transparency and more information.
The board of McLean Care has remained tight-lipped following the public announcement on 10 February that it intended to “transition its business – comprising residential care, independent living units (ILUs), home care services and virtual healthcare hub iAge Health – to a new provider”.
The Inverell community has been the most outraged, arguing that McLean Care was donated to the people of Inverell.
Former McLean Care board chair Phil Girle said the organisation began with donated money and land from the estate of Hector Neil McLean to build a convalescent home, which was donated to the people of Inverell, and originally operated as a trust.
He said the trust structure remained in place until around 2015, when it was decided it was better to operate as a company limited by guarantee.
“It has grown, obviously, ever since those days into residential aged care and self care units and things.”
“So the trust was disbanded and the company formed, and the directors of the trust became directors of McLean Care.”
“So my point of view is, the thing belongs to the community. The property and the buildings belong to the community,” Mr Girlie said. “I don’t see how they can sell it.”
While most questions put to McLean Care’s board via their PR firm remain unanswered, they did confirm that McLean Care owns the buildings in Inverell and that they will be sold as part of the deal, as will the Apex facility in Gunnedah. Kolora in Guyra is owned by Armidale Regional Council, and the Alkira facility in Gunnedah operates under a peppercorn lease arrangement with the NSW Government.
Mr Girlie says he would like to see a not-for-profit provider come in and take over the operations, ensuring that which was gifted to the community stays in the community.
Mr Girle said he also had heard clients in Inverell’s community care program had been contacted and told to find another provider.
“I know they’ve been in contact with clients in Inverell telling to get another provider – that was just a phone call, ‘find someone else’.”
“They’re not being upfront with us at all,” he said.
Families with loved ones in residential care also say communication has been lacking. Some families and stakeholders received a short letter that advised them that was no imminent changes to care arrangements, and all refundable accomodation deposits and bonds are fully protected and will be rolled over.
Other loved ones have received even less information.
Matthew Newley, whose mother is a resident at Guyra’s Kolora, said: “All I got was a message with a link to an online discussion.”
Mr Newley said he recieved that invitation last Monday, and has heard nothing since.
“Not the greatest communication ever received,” he said.
“It is a very big shame. I hope someone reputable steps in to take it over. A few concerned families out there.”
The spokesperson for McLean Care said the Board’s priority was to ensure staff, residents, families, home & community clients, and other key stakeholders received the announcement directly from McLean Care.
“We’d like to emphasise that McLean Care provided multiple opportunities to achieve this in an appropriate and timely manner—including face-to-face meetings, online calls and written correspondence.”
The company has also put a page of limited information on its website, which largely just repeats the same vague information in different formats.
Armidale Regional Council and Gunnedah Shire Council have confirmed that they were notified of the McLean Care decision by letter prior to the public announcement. Gunnedah has made no comment on the situation, but Armidale confirmed they still own the Kolora facility at Guyra and that they have sought assurances about continuity of care at the facility.
“We look forward to working with the Interim CEO as Mclean care transition to a new ownership model,” Armidale Regional Council General Manager James Roncon said.
“Business as usual for Kolora and Armidale Regional Council (ARC) have been assured that there will be no disruption to patient care and wellbeing as part of the transition. ARC will monitor the situation closely.”
Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey was also informed, and has reportedly sought a meeting on the issue.
The big unanswered question for most is what happened to cause the company to arrive at the decision. The only clue, beyond the management-speak references to rising operating costs and complex compliance requirements, is the legally required annual financial report to the ACNC, the charity regulator, which indicates the company had $68m in liabilities and $66m in assets, and delivered an operating loss of $11,672,033 in the Financial year to June 30, 2025, on top of a $6m loss the year prior. The company has not uploaded an annual report to its website since 2022, indicating that the issues have been ongoing for some time.
And while residents money is protected and their care should not be significantly affected, staff receive no such assurances, with their fate left up to the new provider. Across its entire operations, the aged care provider employs more than 700 full-time, part-time and casual staff.
“McLean Care is not providing further comment at this stage,” the spokesperson said.
Mr Girle said he had contacted the chairman and a director he knew in his search for answers but had not received a response.
He said he had also been contacted by the federal department overseeing aged care services, but was told authorities could not compel the organisation to be more transparent as long as it was meeting its prudential requirements.
“I just want to work with them to create the best outcome,” he said.
” I would really like to see some transparency from them and let the community know exactly what’s going on. I don’t think that’s an unreasonable request.”
For now, families, residents and the wider Inverell community are left waiting for answers about what the “transition” will mean for facilities, staff and the future of an organisation many still regard as belonging to the people.
Inverell Shire Council, the Department of Aged Care, and Member for New England Barnaby Joyce have have also been contacted for comment or for any further information they may be able to share, but have not yet responded to questions prior to publishing this story.
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