The first state to transfer retirement villages out of the Consumer Affairs portfolio into the Dept. of Housing (QLD), has called for a sector review that is to be completed by 30 November. Check the thrust of some of the considerations:
• protections for residents; including providing appropriate material to enable informed decisions to be made;
• provide certainty, accountability and transparency for residents in relation to their financial obligations, including the interests of residents in the event of a village closing down;
• operators to develop and adopt best practice standards in operating villages, or require operators to comply with mandatory standards or accreditation;
• promote innovation and expansion in the retirement village industry
• residents to be involved in budgeting
• provide a timely, informal and cost-effective process for resolving disputes