Knowledge Centre

Category: Village Operator

Categories
Facility Manager Village Operator

Put the resident first, at all times

Village Summit 2022 concluded this week in Sydney, with Cameron Kirby speaking about Chanje Partner’s ‘obsession’ with residents.

“Put the residents first, at all times, and they will do the marketing for you,” he began when addressing a full house of Village Managers and Head Office staff at the Hilton Hotel yesterday.

Talking to the consumer research Chanje Partners have undertaken recently, Cameron went on to explain that “the DMF is still relevant, where you have a clearly articulated value proposition that supports this financial model.”

Cameron went on to explain how a well defined service model is the key to justifying a DMF, talking to how service goes beyond simple pricks and mortar amenities, with care and support being a big part of what tomorrow’s residents are looking for, today.

Categories
Facility Manager Village Operator

State In Focus: Have your say on new NSW Housing SEPP

The NSW Government has released an Explanation of Intended Effect (EIE) on its proposed amendments to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 (Housing SEPP), including a draft Seniors Housing Design Guide d eveloped by Calderflower Architects.

The EIE from the DPE includes proposed updates to accessibility standards for seniors’ independent living units, as well as the reclassification of what used to be called “hostels” into a “supported living” category, encompassing smaller-scale seniors and disability housing.

Lara Calder, Managing Director at Calderflower (pictured top right), told The Weekly SOURCE that proposed changes in the SEPP mean that retirement village developers may be able to slim down some of the spatial requirements for their units.

Click here to read more

Categories
Key things to help you everyday Village Operator

Nutrition is fundamental to better care

Speaking at Village Summit 2022, Sarah Donnelly, National Strategic Account Manager, SPC Care, said “50% of older Australians are at risk of becoming malnourished or are malnourished.”

“Malnutrition is an under-recognised and under-treated problem affecting older adults,” Sarah went on to say before introducing SPC Care, the dedicated nutritional health care division of SPC Global – an Australian food manufacturer with a rich history exceeding 100 years.

SPC Care aims to meet the unique and diverse nutritional needs of vulnerable individuals and the health care organisations, institutions and carers that look after them. Formed in 2021, SPC Care has been quick to established a leadership position in the provision of nutritious, innovative and affordable food into the healthcare sector through its ownership of The Good Meal Co (Frozen Meals) and ProVital (Functional Fruit).

The value of products such as those made available by The Good Meal Co have become a increasingly important part of village operations in a post-COVID world. Village Managers regularly look to new innovation in order to facilitate access to services residents need, when they need them.

The Good Meal Co is available to Home Care and NDIS participants and boasts a wide menu of meals which can be accessed through an online portal and delivered directly to residents homes.

Categories
Latest industry developments Village Operator

Centennial’s Derek McMillan says “every village needs a five-year plan”

VILLAGE SUMMIT 2022 was in Melbourne last week, where Derek McMillan, CEO of Centennial Living, drew on more than two decades of experience in the industry when encouraging every retirement village to have a five-year plan.

Regardless of a retirement village being established or young, Derek noted the benefits of having a clearly defined vision that Village Managers can work toward with their residents, which in the end would benefit current and future customers.

“I’ve always been a believer in an EOS approach,” Derek said before explaining further how a village’s Environment (various stakeholder groups), coupled with the support of an Organization (the Operator) can deliver on a Strategy of where you want to be in five years’ time.

Derek encouraged VILLAGE SUMMIT delegates to be disciplined when involving the various stakeholder groups, as they can have the biggest impact on realising a five-year plan, with the most important stakeholder group of all being residents.

The Summit, which was centred around a Village Manager’s role being “for purpose”, dedicated a large portion of the day to conversations about the emergence of the Baby Boomers as a consumer group and the impact this will have on our industry and our villages.

Categories
Village Operator

Centennial’s Derek McMillan says “every village needs a five-year plan”

VILLAGE SUMMIT 2022 was in Melbourne last week, where Derek McMillan, CEO of Centennial Living, drew on more than two decades of experience in the industry when encouraging every retirement village to have a five-year plan.

Regardless of a retirement village being established or young, Derek noted the benefits of having a clearly defined vision that Village Managers can work toward with their residents, which in the end would benefit current and future customers.

“I’ve always been a believer in an EOS approach,” Derek said before explaining further how a village’s Environment (various stakeholder groups), coupled with the support of an Organization (the Operator) can deliver on a Strategy of where you want to be in five years’ time.

Derek encouraged VILLAGE SUMMIT delegates to be disciplined when involving the various stakeholder groups, as they can have the biggest impact on realising a five-year plan, with the most important stakeholder group of all being residents.

The Summit, which was centred around a Village Manager’s role being “for purpose”, dedicated a large portion of the day to conversations about the emergence of the Baby Boomers as a consumer group and the impact this will have on our industry and our villages.

Categories
Facility Manager Village Operator

RLC slams Asset Management Plans ahead of 2023 NSW election

The Retirement Living Council has labelled NSW’s Asset Management Plans (AMPs) the “biggest adverse impact” on the sector this year.

AMPs, which operators have called “laborious and unrealistic”, were criticised at the NSW Retirement Living Forum’s Regulation and Policy panel this month.

RLC Executive Director Daniel Gannon (pictured) says that while the NSW Government likely thought AMPs were a good idea, in practice they have added an extra burden in cost and red tape for operators.

“Over 80% of attendees at this year’s NSW Retirement Living Forum said the policy outcome does not meet the Government policy’s intent,” he told The Weekly SOURCE.

“There is a demonstrable need for government intervention and amendment to remove this massive compliance burden for both operators and residents.”

Daniel has signalled the RLC may lobby the NSW Government on AMPs ahead of the state election in March next year, pointing to how the official guidelines for operators stretch to a 26-page document.

“The retirement living industry is mobilising ahead of next year’s election. Cutting the unnecessary red tape that simply adds cost to business, then customers, is a key priority,” he said.

The Government earlier this year was forced to push back the deadline for AMPs, given the confusion and difficulty operators were experiencing in preparing them.

Categories
Facility Manager Village Operator

Knowledge Centre Update: Workplace Health and Safety

As we are all aware, WHS is an essential part of village management. For Village Professionals to maintain a certain level of safety in the workplace for our residents, staff and ourselves, it is critical we have processes and procedures in place.

In this learning module, Kylie Harding from Critical Success Solutions, explores areas which require our focus, provides us with resources and handy hints and tips to get things aligned to the requirements within our villages. Kylie covers off the following topics:

  • Defining Work Health and Safety (WHS)
  • Identify key WHS components
  • Explore “responsibility of self”
  • Responsibility of the organisation and responsible person
  • Best practice systems and processes
  • Where to find more information

Kylie Harding is a community sector professional with over 25 years management experience in the community services and health care sector for both NGOs, Government and Statutory Authorities.

Access to the DCM Institute Knowledge Centre can be found here.

Not a participant in the DCM Institute Village Professional Program? Contact us for more information.

Categories
Village Operator

DCM Institute continues to recognize professional development in Brisbane and Perth

Picture: (L-R) James Wiltshire, DCM Institute Executive Director, Sarah Mosconi, Amanda House, Adam Green and Tiffany Folbigg.
Picture: (L-R) James Wiltshire, DCM Institute Executive Director, Sarah Mosconi, Amanda House, Adam Green and Tiffany Folbigg.

VILLAGE SUMMIT 2022 continued in Brisbane and Perth last week, with DCM Institute once again taking a moment to recognise individual excellence in professional development.

Starting in Brisbane, Karen Brown from BHCL’s Arbor Sherwood Retirement Village was recognised for successfully reaching 1,000 professional development (PD) points as part of DCM Institute’s Village Management Professional Program.

Likewise in Perth, where there were five Program participants recognised for the same achievement: Sarah Mosconi (Bethanie); Susan Reeves (Kwinana); and Amanda House, Mandy Williams and Adam Green, all from Southern Cross Care WA.

DCM Institute’s commitment to the professional development of Village Management across the country continues with the final Village Summit for 2022 being held in Sydney on 1 December.

Image: Karen Brown with Tiffany Folbigg, DCM Institute’s National Administrator.
Categories
Facility Manager Key things to help you everyday Village Operator

QLD Govt launches retirement village comparison site using mandatory operator data

The Queensland Government has implemented a new website that will allow seniors to quickly compare retirement villages in the state.

The website uses mandatory Village Comparison Documents provided by Queensland’s 330 retirement village operators. According to Minister for Communities and Housing Leeanne Enoch (pictured), the site provides “greater security and certainty” for seniors looking to move into retirement living.

“Our new website provides access to this information for seniors and their families in an accessible, easily digestible format. It lets users compare services, facilities and location advantages such as distance to shops, hospitals and public transport options.

“It provides some guidance on the ongoing price range for accommodation units and some examples of cost scenarios. It makes the job of narrowing down options a whole lot easier and quicker for seniors and their families,” she said.

The site does not give information on fees and charges, advising seniors instead to contact villages individually, as well as urging them to obtain independent legal and financial advice before signing.

“The safeguards we introduced with the amendment of the Retirement Villages Act 2019 include improved pre-contractual disclosure allowing prospective residents to make better-informed decisions and giving them more time to get advice, improved behavioural standards for residents and operators and time limits to enable resident certainty around the payment of exit entitlements,” said Ms Enoch.

Categories
Facility Manager Key things to help you everyday Village Operator

Winners of 1,000 DCM Institute professional development point awards in Perth

Image: (L-R) James Wiltshire, DCM Institute Executive Director; Sarah Mosconi; Amanda House; Adam Green; and Tiffany Folbigg.
Image: (L-R) James Wiltshire, DCM Institute Executive Director; Sarah Mosconi; Amanda House; Adam Green; and Tiffany Folbigg.

VILLAGE SUMMIT 2022 continued in Brisbane and Perth last week, with DCM Institute once again taking a moment to recognise individual excellence in professional development.

Starting in Brisbane, Karen Brown from BHCL’s Arbor Sherwood Retirement Village was recognised for successfully reaching 1,000 professional development (PD) points as part of DCM Institute’s Village Management Professional Program.

Likewise in Perth, where there were five Program participants recognised for the same achievement: Sarah Mosconi (Bethanie); Susan Reeves (Kwinana); and Amanda House, Mandy Williams and Adam Green, all from Southern Cross Care WA.

DCM Institute’s commitment to the professional development of Village Management across the country continues this week as VILLAGE SUMMIT 2022 heads to Melbourne on 17 November, before concluding in Sydney on 1 December.

Image: Karen Brown with Tiffany Folbigg, DCM Institute’s National Administrator.