Retirement Villages

Queensland has more than 250 registered retirement village schemes.

To live in a registered retirement village, a resident must enter into a residence contract and pay a one-off ingoing contribution.

In return, they have the ‘right to reside’ in a retirement village (i.e. live in a village unit) and access one or more services for an ongoing charge.

Types of retirement villages

Various types of retirement villages are available.

Accommodation titles include:

• Freehold - where the resident holds freehold title to the accommodation unit
• Leasehold - where the resident’s lease is registered on the title to the retirement village land
• Licence - a contract between the resident and the operator, where the contract is not registered on the land’s title
• Other - includes shareholder and company title.

Regulation of Retirement Villages in Queensland

The government department administering the RV Act is the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation

The Minister with responsibility for the operation of the RV Act is the Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading

The agency within the department that oversees retirement villages is the Office of Fair Trading.

Current legislation and legislative processes can be accessed from the following links:

www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/.../R/RetireVillagR00.pdf

www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/R/RetireVillagA99.pdf

Retirement Village disputes are managed by the processes outlined in the following page link:

www.qcat.qld.gov.au/retirement-village-disputes.htm

Minter Ellison with the support of RVA have provided the following useful national comparison of legislation

www.minterellison.com/public/resources/file/.../RG-RetirementVillageAct.pdf

Lists of retirement villages

Queensland retirement villages by region:

• Central Queensland and Mackay
• Darling Downs and South West Queensland
• Gold Coast, Beenleigh and Beaudesert
• Ipswich and West Moreton
• Metropolitan
• North Queensland
• Sunshine Coast
• Wide Bay Burnett.

Supported living in a retirement village

There is growing community interest and a strong investment by new entrants to the traditional retirement living space in Supported Living. Ideally this approach combines the best of Retirement Living independence with Residential Low Care support. The following set of principles captures the general intent of supported living provision.

Supported Living Principles

These Principles of Supported Living were created through an original pilot project conducted by the California Supported Living Network for Supported Living. These principles apply to supporting anyone in any service category.

A Home of One's Own

• Individuals live in homes that they own, lease or rent like other members of their community.
• They choose where they live and with whom, and they control what happens in their home.
• Individuals are secure in their homes and do not have to move if their needs, their services or their service agency changes.
• Individuals are safe in their home and neighbourhood.

Choice and Self-Directed

• An Individual makes his or her own everyday choices.
• Individuals plan for their futures.
• They direct the services they receive and have a choice of agencies and staff.
• Individuals are supported (e.g. technology, communication devices, behavioural support) to communicate their preferences, choices and needs.
• Individuals are satisfied with the services they receive.

Relationships

• An individual has family, friends and neighbours who support him or her in regular ways or as paid help.
• The individual and his or her circle of support work together as a team with the supported living agency and others to share responsibility for his or her well being.

Community Membership

• An Individual fully participates in the mainstream of community life.
• Individuals have opportunities to join clubs, groups, and churches.
• Individuals use local community resources and generic services.

Flexible, Tailored Services and Supports

• An Individual has a service plan, which is developed through a person-centred planning process.
• The plan reflects the support that the individual wants and needs.
• Services are provided in the person's home and community at times when they are preferred.
• Services offer the individual opportunities to increase competence, confidence and quality of life.