The Wellbeing Conversation Takes off at VILLAGE SUMMIT
VILLAGE SUMMIT is officially underway in 2025, commencing this week in Perth to a packed room of passionate village professionals from across operations, sales, and head office.
The day opened strong with a keynote from the ever-inspiring Marcus Pearce, who set the tone perfectly with his deep dive into our theme: Wellbeing Done Well. Marcus reminded us that wellbeing isn’t just a “nice to have” – it’s at the core of how we care for our residents, support our staff, and take care of ourselves. His message landed, and you could feel the energy lift across the room.
We were also proud to be joined by two of the West’s leading voices in the sector: Jenny Williams, COO of Amana Living, and David Cox, CEO of Curtin Heritage Living. Both shared powerful insights into where wellbeing sits in their organisations’ value propositions. The consensus? We’re doing wellbeing and we are on a journey to doing it well.
After lunch, Madeleine Stamatescu, Strategy & Impact Manager at Australian Unity gave us a deep look into the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index, backed by over 25 years of data. Her insights helped anchor the big-picture thinking with evidence and direction. Then, Shaun Alexander from Pluss Communities took the mic, sharing how real-time data from residents is being used to foster stronger, more connected communities in retirement villages.
To wrap up the day, we heard reflections from two incredible village professionals on the frontline: Kara Jones, Village Manager at Keyton, and Sarah Williamson, Village Manager at St Louis Estate. Their takeaways brought everything full circle – wellbeing isn’t just a theme, it’s a daily commitment, and it lives in the leadership and culture of every community.
Oh and before we forget, a mascot was born! Somewhere between morning tea and closing reflections, Wellbie made his debut. Who is he? What is he? You’ll have to stay tuned. But we can tell you this, he’s got great vibes.
VILLAGE SUMMIT is just getting started
Couldn’t make it to Perth? Don’t worry, Village Summit is rolling across the country this November. We’re heading to Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney next, and the energy is only building.
Whether you’re in sales, operations, leadership, or just want to reconnect with your purpose in village life, there’s something for everyone. Big ideas. Real stories. Great people.
Get your seat now. Village Summit is the place to be this November.
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