ACSA national CEO, John Kelly, departs the association on Thursday after leading it for nearly four years of significant change.

He took over at short notice when Patrick McClure abruptly left ACSA. It had just commenced moving from a federated body to a national body, shifting from Melbourne to Canberra. Kelly had to pick up the pieces.

At the same time the aged care sector was going through its most significant policy and structure review of the last 20 years.

Kelly has been at the very centre of all the major forward strategic planning by government and the sector out to 2023. RSL Care and RDNS CEO Steve Muggleton last night described Kelly as a “great advocate”.

ACSA’s transition to a national body comes into effect on Friday. This has been a marathon task with 1,100 members required to approve the change.

ACSA has conducted a search for his replacement who is targeted to commence mid August.