Last year the Retirement Village Residents Association of NSW received 480 requests for assistance from village residents, or more than one every day.
Enquiries about management accounted for 30%, village finance and budgets 23%, and residents committees came in at 15%, leaving 22% related to legal issues and other concerns..
32 years advocating for members
Founded in 1990, the RVRA is the only organisation in NSW that is charged with safeguarding retirement village residents’ rights and interests and has since grown to close to 6,000 members.
As well as being a ‘help centre’ for members, the Not For Profit is also the lobbying and advocacy voice for residents in villages and has advocated on a number of key issues in recent years, including:
- Making it financially easier for village residents to move into aged care homes by gaining amendment to the fees paid on exiting the village
- Helping with the introduction and roll out of new Asset Management Plans, which give residents greater insight into the costs of running their village
“With the sector experiencing such rapid transformation, there is a pressing need for a more intensive, informed and focused response to the needs of all stakeholders,” said the RVRA President, Craig Bennett
“It is vital, therefore, that the RVRA has a strong membership base, for its financial stability and lobbying power, and to continue to be a significant and supportive presence in the village sector.”
If you are interested in joining, you can contact the RVRA here for more details. Anyone can join as a member (if you are a resident in a NSW village) or as an associate member (if you are a prospective resident or industry professional).
