For many in Bendigo, the name Stan Liacos is already familiar – from his past leadership roles at the City of Greater Bendigo and leading other major community-building projects across Melbourne and Victoria. But today, Stan finds himself in a very different kind of role – one rooted in care, connection, and quiet transformation. 

As Managing Director of Amicus Community Services, a local not-for-profit organisation supporting people with disability and young people facing complex life challenges, Stan has stepped into its leadership at a pivotal time. 

“I didn’t plan to be here,” he laughs. “I was originally approached and honoured to be the Chairman. But once the Board and I better appreciated the scale and nature of the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead, we knew it was time to roll up our sleeves.” 

And it was and remains a challenge. Like many organisations in the disability and care services sector, Amicus has been feeling the pressure of rising costs, reducing margins, sector-wide staff shortages, and growing regulatory demands. But rather than shy away, Stan has stepped forward – first as Chair, and now as Managing Director – to help Amicus succeed in the ever-changing landscape of community services. 

“I’m not from the disability and care support sector,” he admits. “But I enjoy challenges and care deeply about our regional community.” 

Deep roots in the community 

Stan and his wife have called Bendigo home since 2006. Their two daughters grew up here. His wife is a GP and Chair of Bendigo Health. Together, they’ve invested almost two decades into local life. 

“We know this place, we love this place,” Stan says. “And we want to see it thrive.” 

That local knowledge has been central to Amicus’ evolution. From consolidating buildings and assets to reduce costs, to refocusing services on their two core strengths – one-on-one NDIS care and support and the targeted care for at-risk young people – Stan and the team are now looking ahead with cautious optimism. 

“We’ve recently made some difficult decisions,” he says. “But we’re now financially steadier, we’ve got strong refreshed leadership in place, and most importantly, we’re refocusing back on the quality of care we provide our many and varied participants.” 

Trust, not just talk 

With over 180 staff supporting well over 300 participants across Greater Bendigo, Castlemaine and Maryborough, trust is everything at Amicus. 

“You’re letting people into their homes, into their lives,” Stan says. “That only continues if there’s trust and respect between participants, families, and our staff.” 

The organisation’s trusted reputation is a quiet strength that’s kept Amicus resilient – ongoing referrals from support coordinators, positive word-of-mouth, and long-term staff committed to making a difference. 

“We are having to compete with a large number of totally unregulated backyard NDIS providers offering cheaper services to participants, but without the NDIS Quality and Safeguards that come with formal registration, training and reporting,” explains Stan. 

“It makes for an uneven playing field, but we know that our participants benefit from and appreciate the knowledge that they are working with an organisation that is committed to staying ahead of industry standards,” he continues. 

Looking to the future 

The next chapter? It’s about ongoing collaboration. 

“In a world where funding is tightening, we have to be smarter and more determined,” he says. “That’s why we are exploring ways to work with other locally-owned providers to deliver more, with less duplication of administrative services.” 

For the community, that means stronger, more stable care options – and the reassurance that your local service providers aren’t going anywhere. 

“We’re not-for-profit, but we’re not-for-loss either,” Stan says. “Every dollar of any surplus we make goes straight back into frontline staffing and community care.” 

A final thought 

Stan’s vision for Amicus – and for Bendigo and the region – is simple: purpose-led growth, deep local roots, and a commitment to doing good work well. 

“It’s about leaving something better than you found it,” he says. “And I think we’re on the right path.”