RSL LifeCare ANZAC Village, in Narrabeen, 23km north of Sydney’s CBD, which is the Not For Profit’s largest retirement living and aged care facility in NSW, held its Veteran March and Commemorative Anzac Service on Wednesday.
Air Commodore Nick Osborne (pictured below) presented the Anzac address with the laying of wreaths laid by Pipe Major Allan Watts. Residents were in attendance.
Image by Glenn Nicholls
NSW RSL is holding more than 600 commemorative events in communities across New South Wales. Getting involved in ANZAC Day is an opportunity for all Australians to come together, honor the sacrifice of our service men and women, and show support for our current and past members of the armed forces.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has created three commemorative posters that anybody can print.
“Display our Anzac Day poster to commemorate all those who have served during wars, conflicts and peace operations,” said the department.
“We also acknowledge First Nations veterans and Australian service in East Timor (now Timor-Leste).”
Image by Glenn Nicholls
Holding ANZAC Day events for residents in advance of 25 April is a great way Village Professionals can observe this important day on our calendar with residents in a way that still allows residents to attend events on the actional day, at locations they have likely been attending with mates for decades.
Embarking on my journey in this sector, I’ve really enjoyed visiting our participants at their Villages. I often hear that each Village is different, with its unique types of accommodation, locations, operator models, residents, age of assets, and sizes. However, amidst these differences, is a common thread binds them together—the unwavering dedication of Village Professionals enhancing the lives of their residents.
Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved
Mattie Stepanek
Last week we had the pleasure of visiting The Arbour Berry for our first DCM Institute Networking Meeting, and I’ve been asked to do some reflective learning of my own and share my takeaways.
Learning isn’t confined to a classroom
We have spoken about this before in previous articles, there is a lot you can take away from spending time with peers.
Online learning in the Knowledge Centre is a key part of your development as a Village Professional, but there is real magic that happens when you get to sit in a room, around a table, or have a coffee and share ‘war stories’, as one person called it the other day.
Through casual conversations we were able to walk away with articles to look into reading, and insightful tips to help us develop a new problem-solving skill. Taking the time to network with peers presents an opportunity to expand our horizons.
Knowledge becomes wisdom after it is put to use
What was fascinating was sitting around a table of Village Professionals who had been in the role from 15 years to 15 days, and hearing some of their insights and interactions.
The connection was effortless with each challenge raised, teasing out options, possibilities and pathways forward by others willing to share their own knowledge. It reminds us the most valuable insights can be gained through spending time with peers, whether they’re from your own Village or a neighbouring one.
Networking events, Professional Development Days, and Masterclasses offer more than knowledge. They allow you to learn from peers about how they have put this knowledge into action, what worked, and in some cases, what didn’t.
Lonely is not being alone, it’s the fear that no one cares
During my time it has been fascinating to learn about how spread out this sector is. That many village professionals work similarly to what other sectors call ‘lone workers.’
What I’ve also learned is that when you put a group of Village Professionals in a room together, or on a webinar together, you all quickly realise that you are not alone.
Every Village, while distinct, is supported by dedicated professionals striving for the same goal: the well-being of residents. This shared purpose means that you have a wealth of industry knowledge and support at your fingertips. You all care.
These are my reflections from my own Learning Journal.
Reflections that remind me of the resilience and passion that define this sector. Despite the nuances that distinguish each village, the essence remains unchanged—a shared commitment to creating thriving communities.
Special Thanks
DCM Institute would like to thank Kylie Pickett and the team at The Arbour Berry for hosting us.
When you consider the national days on our calendar, ANZAC Day continues to hold profound significance in both Australia and New Zealand.
Established as a national public holiday in 1921, 25 April has continued to serve as a day of remembrance and reflection. A day of unity where we can pay our respects to those men and women who have lost their lives serving this country, and those who continue to do so to this day.
Knowing how important ANZAC Day is in retirement villages across the country, we thought we’d share a wonderful initiative from Ryman Healthcare.
Each year, residents from their Australian and New Zealand villages are invited to share stories of service to their country. These stories are then collected and shared in a book they call ‘Stories of Service.’
Robert Creek, 78, is a resident at John Flynn Retirement Village in Melbourne and a veteran of the Vietnam War. John served as a member of 3 Troop 1 Field Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers (RAE). In 2024, Robert’s was one of the many shared in Ryman’s book.
Taking Part in 2024
No matter where you are on Anzac Day, you can commemorate April 25 with us. The ABC will have comprehensive broadcast coverage of Anzac Day services and events. Tune into their coverage throughout the day across ABC Radio, ABC listen app, ABC TV, ABC iview and online from 5.30am (AEST). Click on the picture for all the broadcasting options
Coverage includes commemorations and local marches in towns and cities around Australia as well as special Anzac Day programming.
RSL Australia provides details of what is happening in each state as well like the Sporting day events across the country and the Air Force Flying display that takes place in each state.
The last edition of FRIDAY followed the DCM Group’s successful LEADERS SUMMIT, attended by a record 579 people from the seniors living and aged care sector across the country.
We wanted to call out one that we feel every Village Professional should find the time to watch, a presentation by Cam Ansell.
About 11 years ago Cam Ansell jumped ship from advisory group Grant Thornton to establish his own advisory group, Ansell Strategic. Today he is at the forefront of the reshaping of retirement living and aged care, thanks to his in-demand mergers and acquisition business.
At the LEADERS SUMMIT in Sydney last week, he made the prediction that 11 years from now, there will be two hundred thousand residents enjoying ‘independent living’. This compares with today where 200,000 retirement village residents and 100,000 land lease residents live in affordable villages. The number will drop by 33%.
The video below explains what makes up this prediction for independent living, and talks to a significant rise in community based home care. A topic we have been exploring through our recent Home Care in Retirement Living Masterclasses.
Over the past two weeks, the DCM Institute hosted a Masterclass on Home Care in Retirement Living.
The webinar featured home care experts, Kylie Johnson from Living Choice, and Beverly Smith from myHomecare. The feedback from attendees was that the conversations had couldn’t have been more-timely, and when you look at the numbers it’s easy to see why.
According to PWC’s Retirement Living Census, the average age of residents within our villages is 81. We talk and write regularly around Dementia, with three out of every 10 Australians over the age of 80 living with a diagnosis. Research suggests there are many more undiagnosed.
Across the country we have Aged Care operators commending their facilities are full – and no more are being built.
The Home Care Packages Data Report (November 2023) suggests that as of 30 September 2023, there had been a 13% increase in people who had access to a Home Care Package (HCP) over the 12-month period. What’s more, there are an additional 31,500 waiting without
The numbers paint a picture that Village Managers are dealing with every day. Home Care is now part of our value proposition. The conversation on DCM Institute’s webinar came down to the types of models that are currently in the market, and what Managers can be doing to help residents remain independent and well in the safety of their retirement village home.
Equipping Village Managers with Essential Tools
“It’s about giving Village Managers that toolkit,” remarked Kylie, emphasising the importance of arming Managers with the necessary resources to support residents in their home care journey.
Kylie spoke about partnering with service providers in your local area health network to ensure Managers are having informed conversations with residents. This will then allow Village Managers to guide residents and their families effectively, promoting safety and independence as they age.
Establishing Strategic Partnerships
Beverly drew on her extensive experience with myHomecare, and previously Australian Unity where she was the Executive General Manager of their Retirement Living portfolio.
“Integrated models or long-term partnerships with home care providers are crucial,” she noted. These partnerships can be established at a local village level, or at a corporate level for larger operators. Regardless of the approach, Beverly advocated that a strategic partnership for those who do not provide home care as a service will ensure consistent and reliable support for residents and enhance the overall value proposition of the village community.
Leveraging My Aged Care as a Gateway
“My Aged Care is the National gateway into the Aged Care system,” highlighted Kylie.
By registering and exploring available resources on the platform, residents and Village Managers can gain valuable insights and access tailored support options.
Addressing Challenges in Accessing Timely Care
Acknowledging the challenges faced by residents in accessing timely care, Kylie highlighted lengthy wait times for assessments and approval of home care packages. It was noted that wait times can be up to 9 months for those with a Level 3 HCP.
Village Managers can play a proactive role, Kylie encouraged, through collaborating with family members, carers, discharge planners and case managers to expedite assessments, especially for high-priority cases.
Empowering Residents with Accurate Information
Beverly emphasised the importance of educating residents about their care options.
“Individualised advice is crucial,” she advised. By providing accurate information, Village Managers empower residents to make informed decisions about their care without unnecessary hesitation.
File Notes
The most challenging issue faced by Village Managers is when a resident’s health is deteriorating, and this is not being recognised or supported by family or loved ones. It was recommended by both Kylie and Beverly that Village Managers should take the time to keep quality ‘file notes’ – a simple record of what has been observed over a period of time.
Be Pro-active, collaborative and well informed.
The main take away from the webinar was the need for Village Professionals to be proactive in taking the time to understand the different care models, how to navigate systems like My Aged Care, and fostering partnerships with home care providers.
The RLC has just released a 48 page policy argument for the government and the Federal Department of Health and Aged Care to recognise that retirement villages already provide home support and that a small number of policy changes to the Community and Home support funding programs can save the Government $100 million a year.
The concept of Shared Care is to take a small portion of a large number of village residents’ Community and Home support packages and apply those funds to the full village, which would deliver economies of scale and investments in wellness supports for all residents.
An example would be instead of say 10 residents each utilising their individual home support packages to be individually taken to the shops to buy their groceries, part of those funds would be used to fund a village bus trip where one bus and one driver takes 10 people to the shops.
Another example would be for the collective funds to pay for a village nurse, who would not only look after people on Government-funded Packages but also the other village residents and with the better health support, more likely arrest their pending acuity.
The report also points out that village operators already deliver many of the common services under a Community or Home Support Package, such as home modifications, transport to medical and recreational events, meals and meal preparation, assistive technology and domestic assistance.
Under a master Home Care Package, why can’t the village expand the delivery of the services and be compensated? The result would be cheaper than a resident receiving the services from an outside home care provider.
There is a long way to go before Shared Care may be fully embraced by Government, but elements could be announced as early as the May Federal Budget.
The major achievement is that the Department, therefore the Government, is recognising the role and the opportunity of retirement villages deliver in the care journey.
The RLC is recommending a trial or pilot. The hope is that can commence soon so that when the new Support at Home program commences in July 2025, there is a platform to expand on.
The sector has moved a long way in the last year or two. And this is needed, because as we reported last Thursday in The SOURCE, in the nine months to September 2023 just 520 new aged care places were added in Australia compared to the Government’s estimate of 8,800 required every year.
Retirement village ‘beds’, with professional support, can go a long way to fill this gap with the benefit of Shared Care.
Participants in DCM Institute’s Professional Development Program have access to an exclusive webinar ‘Home Care in Retirement Living,” later this month.
The purpose of this webinar is to look at the different ways in which Home Care works in a retirement village setting. We have invited two subject matter experts to provide guidance on the options available to them, and to explore the models that are currently out there across the country.
Vanessa Clarke from the Office of Ageing Well speaking at DCM Institute's Professional Development Day in Adelaide on 27 February 2024
The Bill introduces a series of proposed amendments to the existing Retirement Villages Act 2016 (SA) to provide greater clarity to operators on several matters and to safeguard the rights and interests of residents.
The key changes under consideration:
Enhanced Registrar Powers: The Bill suggests providing the Registrar with additional information-gathering powers to strengthen oversight.
Increased Transparency in Contracts: Residents can anticipate more detailed residence contracts and disclosure statements, ensuring a clearer understanding of their rights and obligations.
Mandatory Terms in Residence Contracts: The introduction of mandatory terms for all residence contracts will standardize agreements across the sector.
Deposit Regulation: The Bill proposes regulating the taking of deposits, imposing a cap of $5,000 to prevent excessive financial burdens on residents.
Shortened Buyback Period: The statutory buyback period is set to be reduced from 18 months to 12 months plus 30 days, offering quicker resolution for departing residents.
Controlled Recurrent Charge Increases: Restrictions on recurrent charge increases to CPI where contracts lack a fixed amount or formula.
Sinking Fund Contribution Limits: A cap of 1% of the unit’s current market value per year, not exceeding 12.5%, is proposed for sinking fund contributions upon departure.
Limited Alteration Refusals: Grounds for operators to refuse consent to prescribed alterations in a resident’s unit will be restricted.
Safety and Insurance Obligations: New obligations regarding village safety and insurance will be introduced for operators.
Restricted Scheme Terminations: Operators will face limitations on terminating a retirement village scheme in ‘part’.
Expanded Tribunal Powers: The SA Civil & Administrative Tribunal is set to gain enhanced powers to hear and make orders about retirement village disputes.
Mandatory Training Requirements: Village operators and staff will be required to undergo mandatory training.
Codes of Conduct: The Bill provides for additional codes of conduct to be observed by village operators, managers, staff, and residents.
The Bill remains with the South Australian Parliament with the proposed amendments to take effect at a date to be determined.
Speaking at DCM Institute’s recent Professional Development Day in Adelaide, Vanessa Clarke from the Department of Ageing Well noted that following proclamation, her team would still need to work on the accompanying regulations – which would take some time, and require further consultation.
DCM Institute’s industry partners, MinterEllison, are urging village operators in South Australia to carefully consider the Bill, make any necessary changes to their village contracts, and assess potential impacts on operations. This is to ensure they are prepared when the amendments commence.
We’re thrilled to announce the team at Critical Success Solutions as a member of our Village Management Professional Development program.
Building strong, long-term industry partnerships with like-minded, passionate and experienced professionals within the retirement living sector is a priority for the DCMI team.
Critical Success Solutions bring a wealth of knowledge in the areas such as;
Residential Aged Care
Home Care
Commonwealth Home Support programs
Disability / NDIS
Retirement Living
Education Services
We look forward to working with Critical Success Solutions to provide helpful, hands-on advice and knowledge with our participants.
Key learning: Village Managers have significant responsibilities and accountabilities for safe work practices.
Last week in Sydney we had Colleen Harris, who is the Metropolitan Chief Inspector for Worksafe NSW, give a presentation on the responsibility of Village Managers – and operators – to provide a safe working environment (Colleen pictured below inset).
You will have a reasonable understanding of the responsibilities as an employer of workers, but you also have some responsibilities for contractors and others visiting or doing work in the village.
This is a serious subject. As the slide at the top shows, in NSW for example, Worksafe inspectors have more ‘power’ than the police when they enter a workplace to demand information etc.
This list gives you a taste of your obligations as a front-line manager:
The need for WHS to be discussed on a regular basis with staff and sub-contractors
Ongoing review of safe work practices
The requirements for Standard Operating Procedures for operation of plant
Provide safe systems of work particularly in relation to heights, plant and chemicals
The storing and use of chemicals
The need for protective personal equipment
Induction of staff, contractors and volunteers
Regular instruction, training and supervision to do their work in a way that is safe and without risk to theirs or others health
Remember, at times the common areas, staff offices, bowling green, and even residents’ homes may be considered a workplace by an inspector in the event of a workplace incident.
This month, August, as part of the DCM Institute Village Management Professional Development Program, we cover Legislation in each state.
If you are part of the VM program you can download the WHS checklist as part of the month-end materials.
