Setting a level of standards for retirement communities in Australia! Quality you can trust
The Retirement Living Code of Conduct (the Code) exists to encourage high quality standards and showcase excellence in all aspects of the operation and management of retirement villages ensuring that residents have the experience they deserve. It is endorsed by the Property Council of Australia and Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA).
The Code is a voluntary industry Code with independent governance which provides retirement community owners and operators a set of standards, so every resident has an excellent experience. It ensures operators are accountable to their residents for the high standards they have agreed to uphold, while operating with integrity and implementing best business practises across their community.
Find your nearest Code Signatory village by click here.
The Code of Conduct locks villages into helping your retirement by:
- Promoting and protecting the interests of residents, current and future
- Implementing consistently high standards from moving into, living in, and leaving a village
- Providing clarity and transparency, particularly with marketing, sales contracts, and ongoing obligations
- Provides a framework to assist open transparent and efficient resolution of complaints by residents
- Generating industry leadership to promote effective self-regulation that complements and builds on existing regulatory arrangements
- Assuring diversity and choice in retirement villages… with complete trust.
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Introducing the Code Review Panel (CRP)
The Code compliance is overseen by an independent Code Review Panel, which works with the Code administrator to ensure the Code is effective and enhances the reputation of the industry.
The Code Review Panel is an independent body, comprising an Independent Chair, two (2) members and three (3) Alternates. The Panel members all have experience in dispute resolution. The members are:
Independent Chair
Dr Elizabeth Lanyon
Operator Representative
Tamara Rasmussen
Operator Alternate
Harish Bastian
Operator Alternate
Anna Gorgijeski
Operator Alternate
Kim Teudt
Resident Representative
Judy Mayfield
Resident Alternate
Craig Bennett
The Code Review Panel each year releases an annual report to demonstrate and record the progress of the Retirement Living Code of Conduct:
- Access the 2024 annual report
- Access the 2023 annual report.
- Access the 2022 annual report
- Access the 2021 annual report.
- Access the 2020 annual report.
The Panel recently completed a Code Guidance to assist operators and residents gain a greater understanding of how the Panel has interpreted certain sections of the Code. A copy of the guidance document is available here.
Introducing the Code administrator
The Code Administrator handles the administration of the Code on behalf of the Peak bodies. The Administrator will manage the Code Register, website and portal as well as the Complaints and Breach Registers. The Administrator will report on Code related matters and complaints and refer matters to the CRP as required.
Code administrator
Deborah (Debbie) MacDonald stepped into the role of Code Administrator in April 2024, based in the Property Council’s Queensland office.
Debbie takes on the role with extensive administration and compliance experience with KPMG Law, Logan City Council, QUT and The University of Queensland.
Debbie can be contacted via email.
For more information on the Code, please contact the Code Administrator. If you believe a community registered under the Code is not meeting its Code obligations, you can lodge a complaint.
If you are an operator who wants to sign up to the Code, register here.
If you are an operator who wants to sign up to the Provisional Code, register here.
Code of Conduct training
sIf you are an operator, we encourage you to enrol in the Retirement Living Code of Conduct e-Learning module by Property Council Academy. This will familiarise participants with the Retirement Code of Conduct, enabling them to promote and protect resident rights and provide a benchmark for best practice. Register Here.
Find a Code of Conduct village
Retirement communities that have registered for the Code and made the commitment to high standards in retirement living are listed here or can be identified using our search tool below to find Code Compliant retirement villages located near you.
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