LINK has had a strong start in several areas in the first 3 months of FY26. Managing and operating LINK for me has 3 main components. Many will relate to the IN the Business of everyday actions and issues that need to be addressed to keep the business going. There is also the ON the Business, where we need to assess any tactical shifts to strategic goals (whether it’s Government relations, funding monitoring,
Financial:
FY25 results have been signed off by the Auditors with a $260k surplus! A huge turnaround from previous years’ losses.
FY26 has been also very strong profit wise but we are being mindful of fine tuning our strategy to address some gaps to ensure our government Funding and Service targets are also being met. This is a complex explanation that I will try and expand on in a future edition. Suffice to say, the team is aware of and working hard on all activities to achieve our various targets for FY26.
Ther take out for all at LINK should be that we have improved our financial position in striving to be more sustainable going forward. Well done to all for each of your contributions to this result.
People:
After the release of the Staff and Volunteer Survey, the team are working on various aspects of the feedback from you.
The first BIG STEP is launching the mental health and well-being program The Lift Project on 10th October (World Mental Health Day)
Please email Cassandra Barret on cbarrett@lct.org.au if any issues with the login details that have been sent to your email address
Whether in Toolbox Meetings or Staff Briefings, we have continually updated our financial position to reassure all having the right strategies in place to help achieve security and business continuity for LINK and its people. Feedback has been to continue to explain where the business is at. Our people are interested and invested in what we are doing.
Staff Safety – the new security camera and speaker combination is now functional in the rear car park. Discussions still in progress for the Pipeworks car park security enhancements, as both Harvey Norman and Dairy-Pac have declined usage of their building to install any security equipment.
LINK also continues to have excellent feedback from our clients with 93% rating what we do as either 4 or 5 stars. Great effort from everyone in placing the client experience foremost and being seen so favourable by our clients in return.
Operations:
Our Domestic Assistance team are focusing on client growth in the Eastern region especially, as we partner with a new contractor to gain more cleaning clients.
Our Home Maintenance (gardening) teams are gearing up for a busy spring/summer season leading into Christmas
Our Transport and Business Development team have implemented multiple group transport jobs for small groups between 10am-2pm and this has been successful in generating more work for our drivers in this time frame. This allows us regular larger revenue generation/acquittal opportunities for LINK but for our clients more importantly, it achieves a low-cost option to Connect with their Friends with a short trip to nearby destinations. This also has not adversely impacted our Outings business which continues to be our flagship and admired by external parties of tackling social isolation in such a simple and enjoyable way.
Our Outings team is targeting an early November delivery of the new Outings program. This is a vital milestone to then launch to our key partners to attain the important pre-bookings required to achieve revenue certainty.
Support at Home (overview):
The Australian Government is progressing aged care reform through the new Support at Home Program, designed to make services simpler, fairer, and more flexible. Here’s what it means for LINK and our team.
What’s Happening:
1 November 2025: The Support at Home Program will begin, replacing the Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programs.
CHSP continues: The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) — which mainly funds LINK’s services — will remain in place until at least 1 July 2027. There are no immediate changes to our service delivery or funding.
What This Means for LINK:
We’ll continue to provide safe, reliable, and person-centred support to our clients. Over the next two years, LINK will stay closely involved in national reform discussions and planning to ensure a smooth transition when CHSP eventually joins the new system. LINK has commenced a project to action any interim steps for Support at Home readiness in an operational and a strategic sense. More in future editions.
Connect with CEO
I wish to remain as accessible as possible to each and every one of you, so I invite and encourage you to email me if you have any questions that wish to raise directly via:
mthaung@lct.org.au
or call me on 0425 809 880.
Thank you for your continuing dedication to LINK and its clients.
