RETIREMENT VILLAGES


The Commonwealth has no direct regulatory role in the provision of accommodation for aged in the form of self contained units in which the resident lives an independent and self-sufficient lifestyle. This type of accommodation often takes the form of retirement villages.


There is specific legislation in New South Wales (Retirement Villages Act 1989), South Australia (Retirement Villages Act 1987), Victoria (Retirement Villages Act 1986) which provide for the protection of residents in retirement villages whether the accommodation is based on a tenancy agreement or on the purchase of shares in the housing corporation.


See
retirement villages code of practice


The following applies to the ACT:

The Commonwealth has no direct regulatory role in the provision of accommodation for aged in the form of self contained units in which the resident lives an independent and self-sufficient lifestyle. This type of accommodation often takes the form of retirement villages. There is no legislation governing retirement villages in the ACT. In the ACT there are six nursing homes which provide approximately 550 beds for residents and there are ten aged hostels which provide around 500 beds for residents (Aged Services Association of NSW and ACT Inc, August 1992).

There is specific legislation in New South Wales (Retirement Villages Act 1989), South Australia (Retirement Villages Act 1987), Victoria (Retirement Villages Act 1986) which provide for the protection of residents in retirement villages whether the accommodation is based on a tenancy agreement or on the purchase of shares in the housing corporation. The Retirement Villages Act 1989 (NSW) and the Retirement Village Industry Code of Practice establish general standards for retirement villages and establish specific standards in relation to termination of residents and provide for resolution of disputes through the NSW Residential Tenancies Tribunal.

The Committee argued there is a need for further consultation and investigation of the special needs and concerns of residents and management in retirement villages in the ACT and an investigation of measures existing in other jurisdictions.


HOSTEL ACCOMMODATION NOT GOVERNED BY COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATION

The Commonwealth regulatory framework established criteria that hostels and nursing homes must meet in order to receive Commonwealth financial assistance. The Commonwealth legislation does not apply to accommodation centres that do not receive this assistance.
 
In December 1992, the South Australian Government passed the Supported Residential Facilities Act 1992. The purpose of the legislation is to protect residents who are aged or disabled and receive personal care or support services as well as accommodation.
The Committee considered there should be further investigation of the need for legislation in the ACT to protect residents of facilities which provide personal care services where those facilities are not already regulated by commonwealth legislation.