NEXUS Primary Health and Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health (SCCH) have announced the two organisations will merge to form one community health service designed to deliver better, more connected healthcare.
From January 1, 2026, Nexus and SCCH will merge into a new single entity to create a more resilient community health service for people who live in the Hume, Macedon Ranges, Mitchell, Murrindindi and Strathbogie local government areas.
Joint Board Chair, Peter Donlon, said the decision to merge has been made after the exploration phase confirmed that uniting the health services would improve access to safe, high-quality, and sustainable healthcare and community services to people living across the organisation’s catchment areas.
“This is the beginning of a significant journey, one that will strengthen the way we deliver care to the communities we serve and ensure our sustainability long into the future,” Mr Donlon said.
“Over the coming months we will begin the process of integration. This will be a comprehensive process involving consultation with staff and key stakeholders, including the development of a new name for the unified entity.”
SCCH’s Chief Executive Officer, David Wild, said staff will play a critical role in the merger.
“Our staff are the backbone of our organisations. We will keep our teams informed at every stage and invite them to contribute to both the operational aspects of the merger and values and the brand of the unified entity. All members of our teams will play a critical role in shaping the new organisation,” Mr Wild said.
“It will be business as usual for staff and clients while this consultation takes place. Any operational and structural changes will follow all enterprise agreements, awards and other workplace requirements.”
Nexus’s Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Ciccosillo said that clients and the local community will also have the opportunity to contribute to the design of the new organisation.
“We know that our local communities have unique needs and care deeply about both organisations. That’s why we will also engage the community and give locals the opportunity to contribute to the design of the new organisation’s brand and values,” he said.
The two organisations began implementing the merger from last week. The merger will be complete by January 1, 2026.
