Just when you think you are out, the sector pulls you back in
One of the things I’ve come to enjoy about the retirement village sector is connecting with Village Professionals, and learning about the various career backgrounds you have all come from.
You arrive from different industries, discover the purpose behind the work, and before long realise they’re exactly where they’re meant to be.
That’s certainly been the case for our newest team member, Natalie Trajcevski.
Natalie has joined DCM Institute as our Client Engagement & Business Development Manager, bringing experience in events, client relationships and business development. Many of you may also recognise her from her time with Aveo, where she worked in Community Engagement.
It was there that she developed a genuine appreciation for the retirement living sector and the people who make villages such vibrant communities.
“My first experience in retirement living completely changed my perception,” Natalie says. “I’d only ever visited an aged care facility before, so I didn’t really know what to expect. What I found were communities full of people, activities and opportunities to stay active and connected. More than anything, I was struck by the genuine care village professionals show their residents every day.”
After spending time outside the sector, the opportunity to join DCM Institute felt like a natural next step.
“Joining DCM Institute gave me the chance to reconnect with a sector I genuinely enjoy. It’s exciting to be supporting the people who make such a positive difference in the lives of older Australians.”
Although she’s only recently joined the team, Natalie has already embraced the variety that comes with supporting village professionals across Australia.
“What has stood out most is how committed everyone is to helping village professionals succeed. Every conversation is focused on supporting people to build their confidence, strengthen their knowledge and continue developing throughout their careers.”
Over the coming months, many of you will meet Natalie at Professional Development Days, Village Summit 2026 and other DCM Institute events.
She’s particularly passionate about helping organisations see professional development as an investment, not simply a training activity.
“I want organisations to recognise that investing in professional development is an investment in their people, their villages and ultimately their residents.”
Away from work, Natalie is a passionate dragon boater (see above) who has represented Australia on multiple occasions. She enjoys travelling, catching up with friends and, if you ask her, is always happy to talk about Maine Coon cats.
When asked what advice has stayed with her throughout her career, her answer was simple: *”Don’t complain about the results you didn’t get from the work you didn’t do.”*
And if she could spend a day working anywhere in a retirement village?
“Without question, as a Village Manager. They wear so many hats—leader, problem-solver, counsellor, project manager, salesperson and compliance expert. It’s a role that deserves enormous respect.”
If you see Natalie at one of our upcoming events, please take the opportunity to introduce yourself. Like so many of us, retirement living found her—and we’re delighted it did.
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