From the President's Desk
Snippets from the Board
RVRA Education Centre Webinars & Videos
Aged Care Reforms:- Residential Aged Care - The First Six Months
Retirement Village Residents Locked Out of Government Equity Scheme
Staying Connected: The Importance of Accessible Transport as We Age
National Plan to End the Abuse and Mistreatment of Older People
Letters to the Editor - Have your say
New Board Member - 'My First RVRA Presentation'
FYI - Important Information Links: April - Falls Prevention, Compass, Scam Alert, Be Connected
Help Support YOUR Association - for the future
RVRA Supporters
Hi everyone
As retirement village residents, we are fortunate to live in communities that offer both independence and support. However, the policy and regulatory environment affecting our villages continues to evolve and it is important that residents stay informed and engaged.
One of the key roles of the RVRA is to monitor these developments and ensure that the interests of retirement village residents are represented in discussions with government, regulators and industry. The RVRA will continue to keep members informed about developments affecting retirement village living across New South Wales.
During March RVRA Board members attended meetings with the NSW Property Council, Fair Trading and Ageing Australia, presented at two National operators conferences, and spoke at various villages.
Members Enquiries
We are in the middle of changing our system for recording enquiries in order to make it more streamline and easier to extract statistics for advocacy. This will slightly change the way we report our statistics each month as we now report under 27 “Topics”.
Developed by the RVRA Education Centre, with NSW support, this series of recorded webinars and videos are for retirement village residents, people considering a move, and those supporting family members or friends.
These resources are designed to help you stay well informed and feel more confident when making decisions about village life. Please share with family and friends.
https://www.rvra.org.au/education/webinars
https://www.rvra.org.au/education/videos
A division of Aged Care Steps Pty Ltd
17 March 2026
Unpacking the first six months of the new aged are
system – what are we seeing?
My previous articles introduced the new regulations governing both care in your home and residential
aged care. I now follow on to provide an update of key trends and issues that we are seeing for consumers
and some tips for navigating the system.
The new Aged Care Act from the 1st of November 2025, brought sweeping changes, placing older
Australians rights, safety and choice foremost and improving quality standards. Along with implementing
this new rights-based framework came major changes to consumer contributions for their care.
While the changes are designed to create a more sustainable and fairer system, they do bring added
complexity - especially when it comes to navigating care options, understanding the costs and making the
right financial decisions.
What issues are we seeing and how can you make the journey easier?
This is a new system with added complexity for consumers and also industry stakeholders including care
providers, government staff and other advisers. With any changeover to a new system there are bound to
be pain points and pitfalls for new users.
Care Needs Assessments
Accessing Government subsidised care starts with registration via My Aged Care for an initial needs
assessment and approval codes for the appropriate support services.
Long wait times - We are still hearing reports of long waits for initial assessment – often several weeks or
months. For Support at Home, there is then an even longer waitlist to receive notification that your funding
is available to start services.
Key Tip – Don’t wait too long to register for assessment and get onto the waitlist for your services.
No approval for residential care – consumers with advanced frailty and health issues, not receiving
approval for residential care because they ‘do not want to go into care’. While this is their right, approval
for residential care and residential respite care does not mean they must go into care – it means that when
the time comes, they can access care. Without this approval, aged care facilities will generally not give you
much of their time or waitlist you for a room. The care recipient will need to go back into the waitlist for
re-assessment, which can cause significant stress for the family or an unnecessary wait in hospital.
Key Tip – It is a good idea to discuss this openly and honestly with your loved ones and possibly be on hand
for their needs assessment.
Australia’s population is ageing rapidly, and governments frequently remind retirees that if they are “asset rich but income poor”, they can draw on the equity in their home to help fund retirement.
One of the key tools available is the Home Equity Access Scheme (HEAS), administered by Services Australia.
The scheme allows older Australians to receive a government loan secured against their home, enabling them to supplement their retirement income while continuing to live there. It is an option often promoted to retirees who need extra financial support later in life.
At the suggestion of one of our members (who volunteers with the organisation) we spoke with Tara Russell, the General Manager of Hornsby Ku-ring-gai and Central Coast Community Transport, about writing an article on the potential for residents of retirement villages to benefit from using one of these services.
The services available through Tara’s organisation, which trades under the name Community Transport, are replicated in most if not all Local Government Areas (but often called different things – for example, Easylink in the Northern Beaches) and are funded by Federal and State Governments and local Councils, as well as nominal charges levied for their services.
Elder Abuse Action Australia welcomes long-awaited National Plan
Elder Abuse Action Australia (EAAA) has welcomed the release of the Australian Government’s second National Plan to End the Abuse and Mistreatment of Older People 2026-2036, describing it as an important step in continuing and strengthening Australia’s national response to the abuse of older people.
You can download the plan or simply visit: https://eaaa.org.au/
Is there an issue you’d like the Board to address, or a question to get feedback from fellow residents?
To share your views on matters relevant to retirement village living, please email your 'letter' to us.
Guidelines:• Maximum 250 words • Simple formatting only – bullet points are OK • Please avoid naming residents or operators • Provide note if generative AI has been used • No images.
Email: info@rvra.org.au - We look forward to receiving your contributions.
See below to read this months letters...
There’s a first for everything!
I was elected to the board of the RVRA last September and was given my first presentation to deliver on Wednesday the 11 March at Levande’s new retirement village The Cambridge, at Epping. This is a very new village, strategically located adjacent to the new metro rail service in downtown Epping. Around 140 residents have moved in with further occupation ongoing, supported with open days and media advertising.
Being a brand-new facility the residents were interested in understanding the role of the RVRA and forming a residents committee. Indeed, the presentation subject requested by Levande to be covered on the day was a question-and-answer session on setting up a Residents Committee.
Take action to reduce your fall risk. Useful Links...
- Active and Healthy – find a local exercise program and resources to learn about healthy eating, getting active and falls prevention
- The Safe Exercise at Home website has been developed by physiotherapists for older people and people with mobility limitations.
Scam alert: Romance scams
6 Mar 2026 - National Anti-Scam Centre taskforce report highlights value of joint effort to tackle romance scams
How to spot a romance scam
Romance scammers often follow a similar pattern:
- Creating a fast emotional bond
- Moving conversations off platforms
- Avoiding in-person contact
- Introducing a financial request
- Applying pressure or secrecy
Need information or advice on elder abuse now?
CALL 1800 ELDERHelp ( 1800353 374 )
In an emergency call 000
This free number will redirect you to an existing phone service near you. This is not a 24-hour line. Call operating times will vary. A collaboration between the Australian, state and territory governments.
Free online presentations - April Topics
- April 16 - Understanding data and public Wi-Fi
- April 28 - How to use government websites
- April 30 - Helpful apps for your smart device
Help Us Keep Advocating for Fairness in Retirement Villages
Thank you for being a valued member of the Retirement Village Residents Association (RVRA) - or for considering membership. Our members' support has helped us continue advocating for fair treatment, stronger protections, and better representation for residents across New South Wales.
As you know, while most retirement village operators do the right thing, there are still many cases where residents are left vulnerable—facing unfair fees, poor communication, or inadequate dispute resolution.
With limited government resources and many competing priorities, retirement village concerns are often pushed to the side.
That’s why we are requesting your help.
A donation to the RVRA will directly support our work, including:
- Advocating for legislative reform
- Providing information and advice to residents
- Engaging with government and village operators
- Giving residents a stronger collective voice
You can donate online (either direct through our website or using GiveNow) at:
👉 https://www.rvra.org.au/donate
Every donation—no matter the size—helps us remain independent, effective, and committed to protecting the rights of all residents.
Thank you again for being part of this important association. Together, we can ensure retirement villages remain places of safety, fairness, and respect.
On behalf of the RVRA Board - thank you for your support.
Kind regards
Roger Pallant
RVRA President
The RVRA appreciates the support of the following professional services organisations.
To become a Supporter of the RVRA, contact us.