Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Goodwill and intangible assets - Schedule of Goodwill (Details)

v3.8.0.1
Goodwill and intangible assets - Schedule of Goodwill (Details) - USD ($)
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jul. 01, 2017
Feb. 29, 2016
Dec. 15, 2015
Sep. 30, 2017
Sep. 30, 2017
Sep. 30, 2016
Changes in goodwill            
Balance at the beginning of the period         $ 397,558,000 $ 376,302,000
Goodwill, acquired during period           21,453,000
Adjustment to goodwill acquired with Acentia         3,074,000 (7,597,000)
Balance at the end of the period       $ 402,976,000 402,976,000 397,558,000
Impairment of goodwill related to continuing operations $ 0       0  
Acentia            
Changes in goodwill            
Goodwill, acquired during period       221,949,000    
Adjustment to goodwill acquired           7,624,000
Assessments Australia            
Changes in goodwill            
Adjustment to goodwill acquired         71,000  
Ascend Management Innovations LLC            
Changes in goodwill            
Goodwill, acquired during period   $ 18,000,000     17,997,000  
Adjustment to goodwill acquired         (557,000)  
Revitalised            
Changes in goodwill            
Goodwill, acquired during period         2,830,000  
Health Services            
Changes in goodwill            
Balance at the beginning of the period         123,679,000 113,427,000
Adjustment to goodwill acquired with Acentia         2,508,000 (8,302,000)
Balance at the end of the period       128,460,000 128,460,000 123,679,000
Health Services | Acentia            
Changes in goodwill            
Adjustment to goodwill acquired           0
Health Services | Assessments Australia            
Changes in goodwill            
Adjustment to goodwill acquired         0  
Health Services | Ascend Management Innovations LLC            
Changes in goodwill            
Goodwill, acquired during period           18,554,000
Adjustment to goodwill acquired         (557,000)  
Health Services | Revitalised            
Changes in goodwill            
Goodwill, acquired during period         2,830,000  
U.S. Federal Services            
Changes in goodwill            
Balance at the beginning of the period         228,148,000 220,524,000
Goodwill, acquired during period           0
Adjustment to goodwill acquired with Acentia         0 0
Balance at the end of the period       228,148,000 228,148,000 228,148,000
U.S. Federal Services | Acentia            
Changes in goodwill            
Adjustment to goodwill acquired           7,624,000
U.S. Federal Services | Assessments Australia            
Changes in goodwill            
Adjustment to goodwill acquired         0  
U.S. Federal Services | Ascend Management Innovations LLC            
Changes in goodwill            
Adjustment to goodwill acquired         0  
U.S. Federal Services | Revitalised            
Changes in goodwill            
Goodwill, acquired during period         0  
Human Services            
Changes in goodwill            
Balance at the beginning of the period         45,731,000 42,351,000
Adjustment to goodwill acquired with Acentia         566,000 705,000
Balance at the end of the period       $ 46,368,000 46,368,000 45,731,000
Human Services | Acentia            
Changes in goodwill            
Adjustment to goodwill acquired           0
Human Services | Assessments Australia            
Changes in goodwill            
Goodwill, acquired during period     $ 3,000,000     2,899,000
Adjustment to goodwill acquired         71,000  
Human Services | Ascend Management Innovations LLC            
Changes in goodwill            
Adjustment to goodwill acquired         0  
Human Services | Revitalised            
Changes in goodwill            
Goodwill, acquired during period         $ 0  
K-12 Education            
Changes in goodwill            
Adjustment to goodwill acquired with Ascend           (224,000)
K-12 Education | Health Services            
Changes in goodwill            
Adjustment to goodwill acquired with Ascend           0
K-12 Education | U.S. Federal Services            
Changes in goodwill            
Adjustment to goodwill acquired with Ascend           0
K-12 Education | Human Services            
Changes in goodwill            
Adjustment to goodwill acquired with Ascend           $ (224,000)