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.