On an otherwise dreary August afternoon, the rain cleared just in time for us to unveil the Delando Hub sign – a small but meaningful moment marking the public announcement of Castle and Delando coming together. It was a symbol of our commitment to carry forward Delando’s proud history while building a shared future.
Our sector is facing ongoing reform and growing pressure. The policy, funding and compliance environment has never been more complex. The latest State of the Disability Sector Report shows that more than one in five organisations are considering leaving the sector altogether – a sharp increase from the previous year.
Half of all providers ran a deficit last year, and many fear they won’t be able to deliver services at current NDIS prices. Most importantly, behind these numbers are real people: more than 100,000 Australians with disability risk losing access to the trusted supports they rely on each day.
It was against this backdrop that Castle and Delando began conversations last year about coming together. We recognised that responding to these challenges requires more than good intentions – it requires courage, collaboration and a willingness to make bold decisions. Both organisations value long-standing community connections and understand that when community-based organisations disappear, we lose more than services. We lose history, trust and the relationships built over many decades.
Children at the opening of Delando in 1954, playing on a clothesline-come-carnival ride.
For me, this is also personal. I’ve worked in this region for a long time and have seen firsthand how these organisations are a home for participants – a place of familiarity, friendships and support. I’ve seen how good services can change the course of someone’s life, and what can be lost when they disappear. That’s why protecting and preserving organisations built from the ground up by this community matters so deeply.
Merging wasn’t a decision taken lightly. It was the outcome of many months of careful consideration and a commitment to preserve our high-quality, community-based supports for people with disability. Research from the Australian Institute of Company Directors shows that while many not-for-profits talk about mergers, only 5% successfully complete them. That’s because mergers aren’t easy. They require humility, purpose, and a focus on putting participants and community above all else.
Delando Lawn Mower Services is still operational after almost thirty-five years
By joining together, Castle and Delando bring more than 100 years of combined experience to confidently move forward into one future. Delando’s proud 75-year history of supporting people with intellectual disability continues, with the cultural and community significance of those services preserved and strengthened. The values of founding volunteers, members and dedicated staff remain at the heart of how we deliver supports. And Castle can carry forward this legacy while building something stronger for the years ahead.
Even though our sector will continue to face challenges, I believe the path forward lies in protecting and preserving community-based organisations, because they hold the trust, relationships and cultural knowledge that no policy or funding model can replace.
This acquisition is a bold choice to stand together and secure a sustainable future, so that the people who rely on us today, and those who will need us tomorrow, continue to have the support they deserve.