Five for Friday with Village Manager Sarah Tibbotts 

Did you have other jobs before becoming a Village Manager? 

I started working on reception with Uniting as I really didn’t know what I wanted to do after leaving school. After working on reception for a few years I was then poached to work as the Enquiries Officer within the Independent Living team, talking to hundreds of potential clients each week. I was then asked to cover the role of a Village Manager for a few months, and realised I loved it. It’s been seven years in the Village Manager role and I haven’t looked back! 

What do you enjoy most about your role? 

 I’m a people person and love interacting with the residents. If someone was to pick out any resident from one of my villages, I could tell you something special about them.  

What have you gained from the DCMI program?  

I have learnt a lot through the DCMI program. Whether it is being quizzed on the Retirement Villages Act by MinterEllison, listening to a Q & A session on a relatable topic or accessing the Knowledge Centre for a Master Class or refresher topic, it’s all valuable! It’s wonderful to be in a room with like-minded people learning new things. 

How do you manage your time to ensure you can balance responsibilities to residents and your operator, with your own learning and development?  

I manage multiple villages so sometimes this can be a challenge! I have to be very organised, and a prioritised to-do list is key!   

The one thing you would tell anyone thinking of being a Village Manager.  

 It’s a very rewarding job and no day will ever be the same.