Merger Update: Preparing our Communities for a Strong Future

Over the past year HepatitisWA and WAAC have been in careful discussions about the possibility of merging. This process, involving several rounds of extensive consultation across staff, clients, Boards and community members, and due diligence across financial, legal and governance matters, found no impediments to proceeding.

We are pleased to announce our Boards have reached a decision, and WAAC and HepatitisWA have agreed to merge, with 1 July 2026 as our start date.

This merger is a considered decision to build a stronger and more sustainable organisation. Our missions align, our communities overlap, and our expertise fits together. We are confident that coming together gives our communities the best chance of being well-served for many decades to come.

Dr Daniel Vujcich, current CEO of WAAC, will serve as the CEO of the merged organisation. We want to acknowledge the exceptional contribution of HepatitisWA's interim CEO, Rebecca Smith. Her leadership has been instrumental in shepherding HepatitisWA through this process, and this merger would not have reached this point without her hard work, diligence, and collaborative spirit.

The remainder of 2026 will be spent doing the work that matters most: co-designing a service that meets the needs of the clients and communities both organisations serve. Staff, clients, and community members will have opportunities to participate in shaping the new organisation, including branding and identity.

Both organisations want to acknowledge the trust that communities, clients, staff, and funders have placed in us throughout this process. We are committed to providing updates as milestones occur, and to keeping the door always open for input and feedback.

L-R: Brenton Clark, HepatitisWA Board Chair, Daniel Vujcich WAAC CEO, Rebecca Smith HepatitisWA CEO and Conrad Liveris, WAAC Board Chair