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Lawrence Eadie Appointed Chairman of the Board, Richard Spenceley Named CEO Sydney, NSW – 26 August 2024 – Verus People, a leading provider of workforce solutions for the healthcare industry, is pleased to announce a significant leadership transition that will drive the company’s strategic vision and continued growth. Lawrence Eadie, Managing Director and Founder of Verus People, will transition to the role of Chairman of the Board. Richard Spenceley, formerly the Commercial Director, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) starting July 2024. Lawrence Eadie has been at the helm of Verus People since its inception in 2017, steering the company to its status as a trusted leader in healthcare staffing. His enthusiasm and dedication to excellence have been instrumental in the company's growth and success. As Chairman of the Board, Lawrence will continue to provide strategic oversight and guidance, ensuring Verus People remains at the forefront of the industry. Reflecting on his transition, Lawrence Eadie stated, “It has been an incredible journey leading Verus People from strength to strength, as the business has grown to provide more than 30,000 hours of healthcare support to the Australian market every month. As I step into the role of Chairman, I am confident that the company is on track for even greater success under Richard's leadership. His record of achievement and strategic vision make him the ideal person to lead Verus People into the future.” Richard Spenceley brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in the international healthcare recruitment market to his new role as CEO. During his time as Commercial Director, Richard played a pivotal role in driving the company's commercial strategy, expanding market presence and fostering key relationships. This period of growth has been marked by a commitment to innovation, operational excellence and a deep understanding of the evolving needs of Verus People’s clients and candidates. Under Richard’s guidance, Verus People is poised to achieve significant milestones, including the launch of several key initiatives that will strengthen the company’s position in the market. Richard’s vision for Verus People focuses on leveraging technology to enhance service delivery, expanding the company’s global footprint and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and customer-centricity.  “We have a very important and privileged role to play in helping guide candidates along their career journey and in healthcare the impact of our efforts extends even further,” said Richard Spenceley. “What we do genuinely improves the quality of care patients receive, often at the time they need it most. I look forward to building on the strong foundation laid by Lawrence and to work with our talented team to drive the next phase of our growth.”

The 2023-24 Australian budget has been announced with a range of measures aimed at improving the healthcare system and supporting healthcare workers. These measures are designed to address shortages, improve access to care, and reduce healthcare costs across the country. $5.7 billion for General Practice One of the most significant investments in this budget is the $5.7 billion allocated to general practice over the next five years. This funding aims to tackle the shortage of general practitioners in Australia and improve access to care for patients. This investment will result in more appointments being available each day, and patients will experience shorter wait times for consultations. Additionally, the cost of consultations will be reduced by increasing the Medicare rebate for GP services. The general practice funding package also includes a 30% increase in the Workforce Incentive Program, which will help to attract more GPs to areas where they are most needed. It also includes a new level E MBS item for consultations lasting 60 minutes or longer, and funding for after-hours care targeted at homeless and culturally and linguistically diverse people. The changes will also increase Medicare rebates by allocating $3.5 billion to expand bulk-billing and provide GPs with more options when treating vulnerable patients. $11.3 billion for Aged Care The budget also includes an investment of $11.3 billion for aged care. This investment aims to improve the quality of care for the elderly by increasing the number of nurses and carers per resident. It will also reduce the number of people on waiting lists by increasing the number of beds available and improve the training and development of aged care workers. The $11.3 billion investment is mainly focused on a 15% pay rise for aged care workers, which will be the largest ever pay increase in the history of the sector. It is estimated that this pay increase will benefit around 250,000 aged care workers across the country, many of whom have been underpaid and undervalued for years. The investment will also fund the rollout of a new regulatory model and embed new aged care assessment arrangements, as well as increasing the number of home care packages and providing more support for carers. Summary Overall, the 2023-24 Australian budget is a significant step towards improving healthcare in Australia and supporting healthcare workers. The measures announced in the budget will help address the challenges facing the healthcare system, and ensure that Australians continue to receive the best possible healthcare. The government's commitment to improving healthcare in Australia is welcome news for healthcare workers, who have been working tirelessly to provide care to those in need, and the investment in the healthcare system will help them to continue to do so.