MercyCare today welcomed a new Chief Executive Officer. Anthony Smith has joined the organisation from St John Ambulance, where he was Deputy Chief Executive Officer.
Anthony is a highly skilled executive, with 25 years’ experience in creating and implementing organisational strategy and direction within community services and member-based organisations including local government and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
MercyCare Board Chair Mary Woodford said Anthony’s exceptional track record of leadership and high degree of commercial acumen would be essential in building on recent achievements and guiding the next phase of the organisations strategic plan.
“Anthony’s perspective aligns with MercyCare’s mission and values and this, together with his skillset and resilience, makes him uniquely qualified to lead MercyCare into the future,” she said.
Anthony will bring valuable experience to MercyCare following a period of significant growth which saw the organisation acquire four new residential aged care facilities and five new early learning centres in the past two years. The organisation was also successful in becoming an NDIS provider for people living with a disability and is the leading organisation in WA providing support services to asylum seekers.
In the role he will oversee further development, including plans for a $20 million redevelopment of the MercyCare Maddington Residential Aged Care facility.
“It is with great excitement that I embrace this new opportunity with MercyCare and look forward to helping lead the organisation in a period of growth,” Anthony said.
At MercyCare the organisation believes that every person matters. With a diverse community service offering which also including foster care, out of home care, accommodation and youth services MercyCare is uniquely positioned to offer a wide range of support services to the Western Australian community.
“What I am really looking forward to is getting out and meeting all of our staff and our volunteers. To visit our service and meet our service users. To get to really know and understand everyone across the great diverse range of services at MercyCare.” Anthony said.
He has stepped straight into work, familiarising himself with the many facets of the organisation.
His first week will include a trip to Broome to oversee progress on the soon to opened MercyCare-managed Broome Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation facility. The service is operated in collaboration with local organisations Centacare Kimberley, Nyamba Buru Yawuru and Nirrumbuk Aboriginal Corporation.
