Anglicare ‘buys local’ from Tasmanian suppliers

Anglicare Tasmania relies on the solid partnerships it has developed with a range of Tasmanian-based suppliers.

These partners range from IT to printing firms, property maintenance businesses and cleaning contractors. We also support a number of other Tasmanian enterprises through client referrals.

“The value of these contracts is more than $16 million each year, and helps these businesses to employ around 900 Tasmanians, “said Anthony Denman, Anglicare’s Chief Financial Officer. “Every dollar that we spend with a Tasmanian business flows into the local community.”

Anthony said Anglicare chose Tasmanian suppliers wherever possible.

“Anglicare is committed to purchasing goods that are produced here and services that operate here so that all Tasmanians benefit from the work that we do,” he said.  “This has become even more important as Tasmanian businesses grapple with the impacts of COVID-19. We know how important it is that small businesses are supported so that they can keep thriving and growing in these difficult times.”

Anglicare is one of the State’s largest community service organisations, and delivered $80 million of services to Tasmanians in the past financial year. These services included disability support, in-home aged care, and housing and community services for children and young people, families and individuals.

In 2020-21 we employed 955 people and operated offices in Hobart, Glenorchy, Launceston, Sorell, Burnie, Zeehan and St Helens. This makes Anglicare a major employer as well as a major contributor to the Tasmanian economy.

Case study:  Interact IT

Tasmanian-based IT consulting firm Interact IT employs 33 people in technical, sales and administrative roles. It has provided Anglicare’s IT services for the past five years, including critical infrastructure and support to keep our IT networks safe and secure.

Interact IT Managing Director James Newman said he’d found Anglicare an excellent organisation to partner with.

“It’s apparent that they want to work together as a team and when issues arise to work through them together to ensure a good outcome for both parties,” he said.

James said his company had taken on six additional staff who provide both day-to-day support and higher level professional services to Anglicare.

“It’s also allowed us to have the confidence to expand our trainee program. This gives young people the opportunity to learn the skills they will need for a successful career in the IT sector,” he said.

“The business partnership with Anglicare means we’ve been able to invest more into training for our existing technicians and it has increased our buying power with suppliers, enabling us to provide more cost-effective solutions to Anglicare and our other customers.”

 Case study: Feet2U

When Barbara Watson started FEET2U in 2012 she was a team of one, covering the Hobart area. Demand for her home-based foot care service has risen sharply in the years since and she now operates statewide with 11 additional team members who, like her, are all trained nurses.

“We help people care for their feet and nails so that they can stay as mobile as possible,” says Barbara. “Our client base consists of Home Care Package recipients, NDIS clients and many private clients, young and old. We currently assist about 20 Anglicare clients, working closely with their team to provide a service that complements the wonderful care delivered by Anglicare staff.”

Barbara said that like all small businesses in Tasmania, the COVID-19 pandemic had meant FEET2U had needed to rethink its service model and find ways to keep its staff and clients safe.

“As an ‘essential service’ we have still been able to deliver care and have found our clients have welcomed a friendly face to break what, for some, has been a difficult period of social isolation,” she said.

PHOTO: Barbara Watson (far left) leads the The Feet2U team.