South Australia Finalises New Retirement Village Codes of Conduct

South Australia has released updated Codes of Conduct for retirement villages, setting a clearer standard for how operators, staff and residents interact. The changes follow extensive consultation across the sector and are aimed at strengthening safety, respect and transparency in village communities. 

The revised codes for operators and residents, along with a new code for staff, take effect on 2 February 2026. While the behavioural standards begin on that date, the enforcement side starts later. From 5 December 2026, new penalty provisions apply to village managers, senior managers and operators who breach mandatory requirements. 

Under the staff code, managers must not put residents’ safety at serious risk, intimidate or harass residents, provide false or misleading information or unreasonably restrict access to common facilities . A breach of a mandatory requirement can attract a maximum penalty of $2,500. 

The operator code carries similar prohibitions and adds further obligations. Operators must not charge prohibited fees for required documents, and cannot alter a surplus and deficit policy without resident approval and timely distribution of the updated policy . Operators may face a $2,500 penalty for breaches, and from December 2026 a $10,000 penalty for failing to ensure mandatory training is completed. Enforcement actions may also be published on the public register. 

Mandatory code-of-conduct training for operators and staff will be required every three years, with current personnel given 12 months from December 2026 to complete it. 

Information sheets for operators and staff will be available online, providing guidance as the sector prepares for the transition. 

For more information 

Information sheets on the codes of conduct for retirement village operators and staff are available online at sa.gov.au.