Information and Resources for Operators of Retirement Villages

A range of resources and information is available for retirement village operators relating to coronavirus and how this can be managed within your organisation.

Always ensure you are relying on a trusted authority or source for your information as this situation continues to evolve and more facts come to light.

It is important to keep up-to-date with the latest advice issued by Commonwealth and State health authorities.  For the latest advice and information, go to www.health.gov.au or Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for the health and aged care sector.  Further factsheets and posters can be found on the resources page.

Note that as retirement villages are governed by their respective State or Territory retirement village legislation, Commonwealth Government directions relating to aged care do not apply to villages.  For residential aged care, home care and CHSP information, refer to the ACSA Coronavirus webpage.

ACSA COVID-19 Webinar - Strategies for Retirement Living operators

16 April: View the recording of ACSA's Retirement Living webinar, with specialists from ACSA National Partner Russell Kennedy Lawyers providing a broad and practical perspective on the legal implications for operators around COVID-19. The webinar was held in Q&A style with a group of set questions from ACSA’s interviewer followed by plenty of time for participants to ask additional questions in the webinar’s open forum. View the webinar

Commonwealth Government information relevant to retirement villages

• Limits on public gatherings for coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): Understanding your privacy obligations to your staff
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for older Australians
• Environmental cleaning and disinfection in the community
• National Cabinet Statement 29.03.20 - limits on gatherings and strong advice for over 70’s
• COVID-19 Fact Sheet for Retirement Villages

State Government information relevant to retirement villages

Australian Capital Territory

• Workplace health and safety

New South Wales  

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQs
• Retirement Villages (COVID-19 Services & Facilities) Order 2020 (NSW)

Northern Territory

• Chief Health Officer Directions

Queensland

• Queensland Department of Health
• Note that Department of Housing and Public Works is the Queensland regulator for retirement villages. As at 31 March 2020 there is no information specific to COVID-19 and retirement villages on this website.

South Australia

• Information for older people, and retirement villages 
• COVID-19 advice for retirement village operators (updated 29 July 2020)
• Information sheet: Retirement Villages Act 2016 - Guidance during COVID-19 pandemic

Victoria

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) and your rights
• Living with COVID-19: Guidelines for Retirement Village Operators

Western Australia

• Clarification around WA Retirement Villages Requirement for Meetings for Budgets
• Self-Isolation Test and Close Contact Directions published 28 March 2020

Retirement Village Posters

• Wash your hands
• Protect Others
• Coughing and sneezing
• When to use a mask
• Know the signs
• Protect our residents
• Entry to our Village

Retirement living and the COVID-19 pandemic: 10 legal tips for retirement living operators

23 March:  ACSA Partner Russell Kennedy has issued legal tips to assist through the pandemic

COVID-19 cases in Australia continue to rise and this will present significant ongoing challenges to the retirement living industry for months to come.

Retirement living operators who fail to adequately manage the risk may face legal and/or regulatory action, and risk long-term reputational damage in a highly-charged socio-political climate.

As retirement villages are governed by their respective State or Territory retirement village legislation, operators should be aware that Federal Government directions relating to aged care do not apply to villages.”

Read the full article

Retirement living alert: COVID-19 Privacy issues and resident meetings

12 May:  ACSA Partner Russell Kennedy has put together this brief video alert addressing privacy issues

In this short 2-minute video, Russell Kennedy Lawyers answer a series of questions relating to privacy issues which retirement living operators need to know in the current context of COVID-19. Watch now

For Victorian members, view the Victoria-specific video discussing resident meetings during COVID-19 here.

ACSA COVID-19 Webinar: Crisis Media Management + Lessons from BaptistCare

This ACSA webinar has presentations by Peter Stahel, Associate Director from ACSA’s media partner Essential Media and Ross Low, CEO BaptistCare NSW & ACT.  Although it is directed at aged care, it provides how-to strategies and hands on experience with managing the media during a crisis to ensure residents, families and communities get the information they need.

Click here to watch the webinar and download Essential Media's Crisis Media Management presentation here

Click the links below to find additional information and resources relevant to aged care:

  Click here for information and resources from the Department of Health

  Click here for general information and resources for providers

For more information, you can:

• Call the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080 which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Visit the Department of Health website.
• Contact ACSA's Member Support Line on 1300 877 855 or email memberadvice@acsa.asn.au.