Videri Australia’s small home dementia care is emerging as a solution for village operators facing one of the biggest challenges for village residents and management.

Formerly known as Group Homes Australia, Videri Australia is the dementia care specialist that has successfully pioneered the small group home business model, dedicated to dementia care. Across Sydney, the organisation has grown to 23 freestanding homes. Now village owners are taking notice.

The challenge for retirement villages (and increasingly land lease communities) is that management is a 9 to 5 Monday to Friday service to residents and the owners. But dementia is a 24/7 reality that can greatly impact not only the resident themselves, but also the entire community.

The average age of village residents is 81, meaning half the 220,000 residents are older than this number, and with this, the incidence of dementia is increasing. The only stats freely available for Australia tells us that two in five people age 90 and over have dementia.

On this basis, it is plausible to say that 10% of people in a retirement village are on the dementia journey, often alone.

Videri’s village proposition

Village operators are beginning to think about incorporating Videri into existing and new villages and their dementia strategy.

A Videri small home on the village campus delivers both a purpose-built safe environment for residents living with dementia but also a staff member that is trained in dementia care and that can assist with village residents in their village homes. And they are there 24/7.

Videri has also developed a flexible respite service, with varying lengths of stay to support hospital to home transitions, planned respite for support partner breaks, or trial periods for future permanent care. They also offer educational programs to prepare and support the person living with dementia and their partner, enabling them to stay at home for longer.

Videri isn’t building large facilities. Instead, it’s staying true to its small-home model: high-care, low-density homes for around 10 people each, typically integrated into suburban neighbourhoods or communities. 

CEO Leah Gabolinscy (pictured at top) says: “There’s a growing appetite from villages that want a care solution but don’t want to sacrifice dozens of beds or homes to get there,” Leah said.

“Our model means you can have a meaningful care offering with 10 or 20 beds and still keep your independent living focus. We’re seeing really exciting interest from retirement village groups who see that potential.”

Videri Australia is already an accredited aged care provider and delivers both Government-funded and private care, including Home Care Packages and support for NDIS clients. Its ability to flex – both clinically and commercially – is part of the reason it’s also attracting attention from overseas.

“We’ve had recent interest from groups in Singapore and Japan who want to come and observe the model. And while we’re always proud to share what we do, we’re also committed to maintaining the integrity of our approach. There’s real value in our care philosophy, and it’s important that we share it with the right people, in the right way.”

In line with its growth, Videri Australia is its new brand , Videri is Latin for “to be seen”, transitioning from Group Homes Australia. It’s also ramping up expansion and reshaping its leadership team.

CEO Leah Gabolinscy joined last year, alongside a new CFO as part of a broader executive renewal.

Founder Tamar Krebs, widely regarded as a pioneer and innovator in the space of dementia care in Australia, now holds the title of Founder and Chief Experience Officer – keeping the experience of residents and families front and centre as the organisation scales.

“Our strategy is absolutely to grow – and to grow extensively,” Leah told SATURDAY. “But not at the expense of our quality, our culture, or our model.

“Everything we’re building is about making Videri Australia’s offering available to more people, while holding onto the philosophy that made us different in the first place.”

A rebrand with purpose

“Videri Australia represents our belief that every person deserves to be seen, recognised, and understood – especially as circumstances change for the person and their family.

“There’s often a dip in visibility after a name change, but for us, it’s been the opposite. Referrals are up, and the conversations we’re having across the sector are deeper and more aligned.”

Built for complexity – and demand

That demand is only going to grow. Around 433,000 Australians currently live with dementia, a figure expected to reach 812,500 by 2054. And while funding and policy settings increasingly encourage people to stay at home for longer, Leah says the system still isn’t equipped for what comes next.

“I don’t think we’ve fully reckoned with how underfunded dementia care still is – especially in aged care,” she said. “People think of it as a clinical condition, but it’s also a deeply social one. We are supporting people through changes that affect behaviour, relationships, and sense of self – and funding models don’t always reflect that.”

Videri sees this daily in the families it supports. Some arrive through hospital or crisis pathways. Others are private clients, without completed assessments. Leah said the organisation has always allowed for a flexible approach: “When someone needs care, that is our priority. The details are worked through in parallel, but we won’t ask a family in crisis to wait.”

The goal is clear: “Growth with purpose,” Leah said. “We want to make our homes more available and more accessible – but never generic. Our homes are small by design. Our impact doesn’t have to be.”

Looking ahead

As the aged care sector grapples with reform, workforce shortages, and rising consumer expectations, Videri is carving out a unique position – not by scaling up, but by scaling better.

“We’re not trying to be the biggest,” Leah summed up. “We’re trying to be the best at what we do – and to reach the people who need us most.”

That growth is already visible. Videri Australia has three new homes in development – in Forestville, Wahroonga and Cherrybrook – and plans to double its current bed numbers.

For village and land lease operators, establishing Videri on their campus is a win/win for both residents and the owner – a human service that also makes commercial sense.