Anglicare Sydney will amalgamate with Anglicare Northern Inland (ANI) from July, extending services to the diocese of Armidale.

ANI operates from Tamworth, Armidale, Inverell and Moree and provides outreach services to other centres such as Glen Innes, Narrabri, Boggabilla, Mungindi and Wee Waa.

“ANI’s current size and level of resources is constraining our capacity to meet the extensive need in our region,” says ANI’s interim CEO, Larry Apthorpe. “There is a strong historical bond between the Sydney and Armidale dioceses. When we considered Anglicare’s large scale, wide range of services, and our shared mission it just made good business sense to amalgamate with them.”

Anglicare Northern Inland has provided a range of services to communities surviving on low incomes and facing high levels of unemployment, relationship stress, addiction, depression and mental health issues. It also runs Hope for Life, which assists young Aboriginal mothers with educational support and life skills.

“ANI and Anglicare are closely aligned in their vision, mission and values,” says Anglicare Sydney’s CEO, Grant Millard.

“We aim to serve the community in Jesus’ name and make a positive difference in the lives of others. We’re both committed to providing counselling, family skills, financial counselling, services for people living with mental illness and programs working with Aboriginal families.”

The amalgamation takes effect from July 1. A local advisory committee will be established to ensure a regional voice in the future direction of service delivery in the northern inland.

Says Mr Millard: “Anglicare will continue to build on existing relationships, working collaboratively with local parishes and with others in the community. We want to develop a meaningful response to socio-economic disadvantage, retain and grow existing services and generate new ways to meet the needs of those we serve.”