PCQ Media Statement on Receivership
MEDIA STATEMENT
12 May 2021
Presbyterian Church of Queensland applies to appoint Receivers
The Presbyterian Church of Queensland (PCQ) today announced that it had applied to the Queensland Supreme Court to place its legal entity – PCQ Letters Patent Entity (PCQ LPE) – into receivership.
The move was made necessary by the imminent expiry of an agreement under which the PCQ LPE is required to make certain payments.
With PCQ unable to guarantee the payments by the due date, PCQ LPE has been required to seek the appointment of a receiver.
Moderator of the PCQ, Reverend Dr Philip Strong, said the decision to enter receivership was regrettable but necessary given the extremely difficult circumstances the PCQ LPE faced.
“Unfortunately, contractual arrangements entered into in previous years, coupled with a very difficult aged care environment have proved to be a barrier to continued operations,” Reverend Dr Strong said.
“Our team has worked hard for more than a year to restructure and realise available denominational assets, including the residential aged care facilities. In undertaking this journey our first priority has always been the wellbeing of our aged care residents, employees and our congregations.
“With a heavy heart, we must recognise the challenge we now face. Our focus now is on working, with prayers, to bring about the best possible outcome for stakeholders,” he said.
Together with the congregations, PCQ’s ministries include PresCare, a provider of residential aged care and Presbyterian ministry services, the Queensland Theological College (QTC), and Fairholme College, a school in Toowoomba.
It is expected that the aged care receivership will have minimal impact on the operations of QTC and Fairholme College.
PresCare exchanged contracts last month for the sale of three residential aged care facilities to Apollo Care. The CEO of Apollo Care, Stephen Becsi said Apollo Care will provide full continuity of resident care and accommodation, and employment to all staff at these facilities.
“These communities will now join the Apollo Care Alliance, an aged care provider that is protecting the purpose, individuality, spiritual connections and community goodwill created by PresCare. These PresCare facilities will operate under the PresCare name and will continue to serve their local communities,” he said.
“Our team are looking forward to maintaining the delivery of quality care to residents and retaining the services of all staff currently employed at Alexandra Gardens in Rockhampton and Yaralla Place and Groundwater in Maryborough,” Mr Becsi said.
“We have made a commitment to the residents, their families and PresCare staff in Rockhampton and Maryborough – and we don’t intend to let them down,” Mr Becsi said.
“The Commonwealth Government has confirmed that it will continue to support the provision of aged care services through these transitional times,” the Moderator said.
ENDS
Media inquiries: Nick Owens, Sefiani Communications Group, mob. 0421 977 062, nowens@sefiani.com.au
