Best Practice to Become Law in Victoria
The Victorian Government has released the second stage of its retirement village reforms for public consultation, providing a clearer picture of how professional standards across the sector may soon change.
Consumer Affairs Victoria is seeking feedback on draft Regulations that introduce a mandatory Code of Practice for retirement village operators and proprietors, together with new requirements relating to resident safety and governance.
The accompanying Regulatory Impact Statement notes that the Retirement Living Council’s voluntary Code of Conduct is currently adopted by approximately 34 per cent of retirement villages.
It concludes that this has resulted in inconsistent practices across the sector, with consumer outcomes varying depending on individual operators.
The statement, prepared by independent public policy and economics consultancy Sapere, sets out three options for introducing a mandatory Code of Practice.
The options range from a relatively light-touch approach through to a comprehensive regulatory framework that introduces additional compliance obligations and offence provisions for operators.
The Victorian Government’s preferred approach, Option 3, goes beyond simply introducing a Code of Practice. It includes offence provisions across several areas together with explicit obligations relating to staff capability, elder abuse prevention and governance.
The Regulatory Impact Statement estimates the proposal would cost industry approximately $19.5 million over ten years, or around $80,000 per operator.
Whether you’re in Victoria or not, the proposed reforms reinforce a broader trend emerging across Australia.
Professional standards are increasingly moving from guidance to legislation.
NSW operators have already experienced this shift through the Rules of Conduct, which include mandatory training, competency and record-keeping requirements supported by offence provisions.
Victoria now appears set to follow a similar path.
Want to know more about the Victorian Reforms?
DCM Institute’s upcoming Professional Development Day in Melbourne on 30 July will feature a dedicated 90-minute legal session, unpacking what the latest reforms mean across the full resident lifecycle from ingoing to living to exiting.
Delivered in partnership with Russell Kennedy, this session breaks down complex changes into practical insights for sales, operations, and leadership roles. Each stage is explored through focused presentation and facilitated Q&A, ensuring relevance to real-world village scenarios.
A must-attend for those looking to understand not just what is changing but what it means in practice.
For more information
Consumer Affairs Victoria has opened consultation on the draft Regulations and is seeking feedback on its preferred Option 3.
Operators, village professionals and industry stakeholders have an opportunity to help shape what may become the next generation of professional standards for retirement living in Victoria.
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