The Ramsay Foundation and Melbourne-based Conscious Investment Management have teamed up to invest $48 million into disability accommodation, a specialist housing sector which is gaining scale through the increasing attention from institutional players and family offices.
Playing a key role in bringing the deal together is social impact investment house For Purpose Investment Partners, co-founded by prominent venture capitalist Mark Carnegie and Michael Traill. Former National Australia Bank boss Andrew Thorburn joined the outfit earlier this year as well.
On the receiving end is Summer Housing, an early mover in the emerging sector, which will direct the funds into 60 specialist disability units.
"By investing in disability housing alongside Summer Housing, we can significantly improve our residents’ quality of lives," said Conscious Investment's Matthew Tominc.
"We hope to grow this partnership to continue to help address the acute accommodation under-supply for people living with disability."
The commitments from Ramsay and CIM's Impact Fund – former Swisse boss Radek Sali is one of several family office investors backing the fund – will help fund the creation of purpose-built apartments across a number of developments under way in Melbourne Adelaide and Brisbane.
Already Summer Housing has raised more than $300 million from a variety of sources, with 370 dwellings financed. Institutional investors are moving into the sector: Macquarie is among the early birds along with boutique investment house Lighthouse Infrastructure.The housing is specially developed for people living with a disability, with rental streams backed by the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Industry forecasts are expecting the creation of a $5 billion asset class.
There is a large unmet demand. Some 28,000 people – around 6 per cent of those who fall under the NDIS – will require the specialist housing. Taking into account existing facilities, it is estimated new dwellings will be required to accommodate 12,300 participants in the scheme.
So far some 980 new or refurbished SDA dwellings have been created, with a little more than 4000 dwellings enrolled in the scheme. When fully exercised, the housing scheme payments are expected to total $750 million annually, with just 20 per cent of that being paid out so far.
Summer Housing chief executive chief Dan McLennan pointed out the particularly grim situation for more than 5000 people, all under the age of 65, who are forced to live in nursing homes because there are no other appropriate housing options.
The freshly minted agreement with the impact investment consortium would give at least some of those people "the choice to live on their own, or with someone of their choosing, with independence and with the ability to fully participate in the community", Mr Mclennan said.
While Summer Housing's effort has so far been focused within existing larger apartment projects in capital cities, it is keen to extend that.
"How can we come up with scalable solutions that enable institutional capital to be applied toward creating housing not just in capital cities but throughout the whole of Australia. It is a problem that isn’t confined to our cities," Mr McLennan told The Australian Financial Review.
"We’ve got a long way to go in terms of existing pipeline and the market itself still has a lot of scope for growth. I think every institutional investor we’ve engaged with has appetite for significant scale in the market. They are keen for the production of opportunities to finance."
Article via The Australian Financial Review: https://www.afr.com/property/residential/powerbrokers-make-impact-in-disability-accommodation-20200817-p55miz
Catalyst Education Pty Ltd and For Purpose Investment Partners (FPIP) are proud to announce the acquisition of ARC Training, a NSW-based Registered Training Organisation (RTO) with a strong track record in aged care, disability care, and business training. This acquisition strengthens Catalyst’s ability to deliver high-quality, learner-focused education and ensure a well-trained workforce for Australia’s most vital care sectors.
"At Catalyst Education, we believe that education has the power to change lives. By welcoming ARC Training into our group, we are expanding our ability to support more learners, empower more communities, and provide greater opportunities for those pursuing careers in the care sector," said David Barnett, Chair of Catalyst Education. "This acquisition enhances our capacity to deliver high-quality, accessible training that equips people with the skills they need to make a real difference."
With this expansion, Catalyst Education is better positioned to support the increasing demand for skilled workers in the care industry. “I am grateful that Catalyst Education will be the new owner and steward [of ARC Training]. Our organisations have very similar vision and values, and I can see the group growing stronger together into the future”, said Cameron Ryan, previous CEO of ARC Training.
By integrating ARC Training’s expertise and reach with Catalyst’s existing RTOs - Selmar Institute of Education and Practical Outcomes, more learners will have access to nationally recognised, industry-aligned education that leads to meaningful employment.
"This acquisition is not just about growth - it’s about impact. The care sector relies on passionate, well-trained professionals, and we are committed to equipping learners with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed in these critical roles," David added.
Executive Director of FPIP, Michael Traill said “Skills education is vital to the social sectors where we seek to make a difference through impact investment, including aged care and early childhood education and care. We are building impact at scale with a platform of aligned businesses and the combined strength of ARC Training and Catalyst Education means we will reach more learners and employers in the vital markets of NSW, SA and the ACT while generating long-term value for investors.”
This acquisition represents a shared commitment to ensuring that the care and education sectors continue to thrive and evolve. As part of Catalyst Education, ARC Training will continue to combine purpose with action, working to drive workforce development, strengthen communities, and create lasting impact. We are excited for the future and look forward to what lies ahead as we work together to create a stronger, more connected Australia.
For Purpose Investment Partners (FPIP) are delighted to announce the appointment of Robert Blackwell as Executive Chair of FP Ability, an investment platform comprising of specialised meal delivery businesses Able Foods and Tender Loving Cuisine (TLC).
Mr Blackwell brings to the businesses an extensive background of successful leadership with world-class corporations, including in the fast moving consumer goods sector. More recently, he has been particularly focused on roles working in partnership with executive teams to transform and grow organisations to their potential.
“We have been especially impressed with Rob’s alignment with the For Purpose Investment Partners mission of social impact by applying business disciplines for social purpose” said Michael Traill, Executive Director of FPIP. “Rob will be working closely with CEO Spencer Ratliff and the Able Foods and TLC management teams through a pivotal time of growth and transformation. We welcome Rob to the FPIP portfolio and we are looking forward to working together as Able Foods and TLC grow their mission of providing high quality, nutritious food across the aged care and disability sectors.”
Mr Traill continued “We also wish to thank and recognise the inaugural Chair Paul Robertson AO for his significant contribution to the establishment and strategic growth of the FP Ability platform, and his invaluable experience in steering the board. Paul has been part of the succession planning to welcome Rob, ensuring future success for FP Ability – a mark of his enduring leadership and character.”
The FP Ability board is pleased to announce that Spencer Ratliff has been appointed as CEO of Tender Loving Cuisine (TLC), while maintaining his current role as CEO of Able Foods. This strategic decision underscores our commitment to strengthening both businesses while preserving their unique identities in the meal delivery sector.
"Having witnessed Spencer's exceptional leadership at Able Foods, we are confident that his appointment will drive innovation and growth across both brands," said Paul Robertson, Chair of FP Ability. "His track record of building client-focused businesses and navigating change makes him ideally suited for this expanded role."
Spencer Ratliff shared his vision for the future, "Both organisations share a unified mission: to deliver exceptional services and outcomes for their clients, driven by their expertise and deep specialisation in the market.
"I’m thrilled to lead TLC into its next chapter of growth, building on its 30-year legacy of outstanding service in the disability and aged care sectors. My priority is to collaborate closely with the team to explore opportunities that harness the strengths of both businesses while preserving their distinct brand identities."
Spencer added, "This common foundation will enable growth that is firmly focused on our clients.”
Spencer will be working with the board, stakeholders and suppliers to identify opportunities for mutual growth and learning between both organisations.
Paul concluded, "This appointment represents a significant step forward in our growth strategy. We're confident that under Spencer's purpose-driven leadership, both TLC and Able Foods will continue to excel in delivering exceptional meals and customer service to our valued clients."
Keypoints
- Both TLC and Able Foods will maintain their distinct brands and current operations
- A comprehensive strategic plan will be developed through collaboration with staff, senior management, customers, board members, and suppliers
- Knowledge and expertise will be shared across both businesses to enhance operations and service delivery.
ENDS
About FP Ability
An investment platform by For Purpose Investment Partners, FP Ability is committed to removing obstacles for people who require support, with a focus on people living with disabilities, their families, and older Australians. Nutrition is vital to people’s good health and wellbeing, and for customers of Able Foods and Tender Loving Cuisine (TLC), their services support choice and independence. Our aim is to improve the quality of services, for the elderly and Australians living with a disability, and address food insecurity in these sectors.
Able Foods
Able Foods mission is to enable healthier, happier and more independent lives for each and every ability. Its dedicated team understands what it means to create meals that cater for each client’s unique needs. Through years of experience, they assist clients to best manage both the NDIS and Aged Care (HCP) processes.
Tender Loving Cuisine
TLC offers customers high quality frozen ready-to-eat meals that are home delivered. With a focus on supporting older people maintain independence at home and supporting health outcomes, many clients access government funded support.
For Purpose Investment Partners acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
We believe that diversity, equity and inclusion at For Purpose Investment Partners are critical in our efforts to create significant social impact. Diversity in the team allows us to better represent the diversity of thought and experiences of the communities that we are aiming to serve, promotes a healthy and thriving working environment, and delivers innovative and sustainable outcomes for our communities, our people, our investors and our partners.
