Key Updates from South Australia’s Retirement Village Reforms

If you couldn’t attend our recent South Australia Lunch & Learn with Kathy Williams, Manager of the Retirement Villages Unit at the Office for Ageing Well, here’s what you need to know.

A New Phase for the Office for Ageing Well

Since the reforms commenced on 2 February 2026, the Office for Ageing Well has taken on additional responsibilities, including providing guidance to operators, supporting residents, maintaining village information and implementing new compliance and enforcement functions.

As Kathy explained:

“Our job as the unit is to help deliver on those new powers and functions, providing advice and guidance to operators about the Act and their obligations.”

The Office is also enhancing the South Australian Retirement Village Register, with a new operator portal expected to be available later this year, allowing villages to update their information directly.

CPI Confusion Recognised

One of the most discussed topics during the session was the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and its impact on village budgeting.

The reforms were drafted when CPI data was published quarterly. However, the Australian Bureau of Statistics now publishes CPI monthly, creating uncertainty for operators preparing budgets and consulting with residents.

Kathy acknowledged the challenge:

“ABS has thrown a bit of a curve ball into the mix.”

The Office for Ageing Well is currently seeking legal advice on how the legislation should be interpreted under the new CPI publication arrangements. In the meantime, operators were encouraged to continue using a consistent methodology while formal guidance is being developed.

Supporting Residents to Age in Place

Questions have been raised about prescribed alterations and when they should be approved.

Kathy reinforced the intent behind the legislation:

“The intent of that provision is to enable people to live and age in a village without premature entry into aged care.”

While operators can impose reasonable conditions and may refuse requests on reasonable grounds, the overarching objective is to support residents to remain independent for longer.

Emergency Planning Remains a Priority

The Office for Ageing Well has received enquiries regarding emergency plans and resident safety.

Kathy reminded operators that emergency plans should not only exist but also include village maps showing exits and key emergency locations. Operators are responsible for determining how residents become familiar with these plans and ensuring appropriate arrangements are considered for residents with mobility or cognitive challenges.

Staff Training Requirements Are Coming

Operators should be preparing now for the new training obligations.

Current staff have until December 2027 to complete mandatory Code of Conduct training, while new staff will need to complete the training before commencing.

The Office for Ageing Well is developing an online training module that will include practical case studies and an audit trail for completion records.

According to Kathy:

“We want to make it easy and useful for operators and village managers.”

In addition to Code of Conduct training, staff must understand the operational policies and procedures relevant to their role, with refresher training required every three years or whenever significant changes occur.

Changes to Dispute Resolution

One important reform is the changed role of the Retirement Villages Unit in disputes.

The Office no longer acts as a mediator or conciliator between residents and operators. Instead, both parties are expected to follow the village’s dispute resolution policy. Residents can also access support through the Aged Rights Advocacy Service (ARAS), which is funded to assist residents with disputes and applications.

The Office will continue to provide education, guidance and information, but not direct dispute resolution services.

A More Structured Compliance Approach

Operators can expect greater regulatory oversight as the reforms mature.

Kathy outlined a staged compliance approach that focuses on education and engagement first, before moving to more formal regulatory action if required.

Importantly, the Office intends to balance compliance activity with practical support.

“We want to support operators to get up to speed with the changes.”

Spot audits and compliance checks are expected to form part of future activities, particularly as the Office expands its compliance capability.

Resources Are Still Coming

Several practical tools are currently being developed to assist operators, including:

• Example remarketing policies
• Example dispute resolution policies
• Entitlement calculation examples
• Vacated premises report templates
• Premises condition report templates

These resources will be released progressively through the Office for Ageing Well website.

The Key Message

Perhaps the strongest message from the session was that the Office for Ageing Well wants operators to engage early, ask questions and seek guidance when needed.