Vaughan Harding of Juniper Aged Care is the new national president of Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA), replacing Rob Hankins.

Hankins, from South Australian aged care provider ECH, stood down from the board after serving as a director since 2007 and president for the past year.

Mr Harding said Mr Hankins had made an outstanding contribution to Aged and Community Services Australia and to the aged care sector for many years.

“I would particularly like to thank him for his leadership contribution over the past year,” he said, adding that he looked forward to a new era of aged care reform and the challenges of providing quality services for the whole Australian community.

“The climate of reform and the move to Canberra will provide us with the opportunity to influence policy for the good of the community,” he said.

He’s joined by new vice president Viv Allanson, chief executive of NSW aged care facility, Maroba.