The Retirement Living Council President, Alison Quinn, opened their annual conference with the summary that the sector had experienced the full effect of ‘disruption’ with the sustained negative media reports, particularly by Fairfax and the ABC’s Four Corners in June (and since).
She stated while the village population had grown by 9% in two years to 200,000 and surveys report high levels of satisfaction, “we also know and have to acknowledge some residents’ experience is not great”.
Ms Quinn reported that in July a one day work shop was staged, including a half day consultation with state resident associations, from which the 8 Point Plan was developed. It will be the ‘road map’ for the sector, with a committee established to develop and drive each point.
The centre point is the Code of Conduct, which is now in its fourth draft and is scheduled for release in the first half of 2018. It will deliver “enhanced and greater clarity to residents and members”.
The RLC will expect all Property Council village members to sign up to it.
“There is no doubt that we have lost the trust of the public, so we need to implement the 8 Point Plan to show we have listened and acted”.
“It is (however) the tip of the iceberg – we have heavy work in front of us”.
In addition the RLC has commissioned two research projects, one by Grant Thornton and another by Urbis.
“The key to disruption is to embrace it. This is the greatest opportunity, socially and economically, and we can deliver it”.
