Retirement Village Managers are on call 24/7, often in charge of more than one village and caring for two hundred older Australians, yet they are on average paid slightly under $80,000 per year.
Employment agency SEEK on Monday had 622 retirement village managers jobs available in Australia.
Heritage Gardens Lifestyle Village needs a Retirement Village Manager for Cairns and Far North QLD. The offer: $55,000, plus commission, plus a three-bedroom apartment.
Fast Track Staff Solutions is offering $90,000 for a village manager for an Over 55s community in Melbourne.
Most do not list a wage but salary comparison website PayScale states the average wage for a Village Manager is $79,364 a year, which is less than the salary of a NSW Government Customer Services Officer, an Aldi Assistant Store Manager, and a Social Services Officer with no qualifications.
Yet many retirement village and lifestyle community businesses are experiencing strong sales and high occupancy with the Baby Boomer generation set to swell this demand. Reside Communities says there is a ‘silver tsunami’ of retirees.
In 2018, a survey by The SOURCE found 50% of village managers were staying less than three years in the role.
Incidentally, the wage in 2018 is the same as it is today.
CFOs need to act fast and pay Village Managers wages that respect their jobs.
