The Forum opened with a well-received supportive video from Michael Pettersson, MLA, Member for Yerrabi setting the scene. The keynote speaker, Jim Gibbons, immediate Past President of the NSW RVRA and recognised as one of the most knowledgeable Retirement Village experts, then gave a comprehensive and informative address covering all aspects of Retirement Living. Jim answered numerous questions. You can review Jim’s slides here.
This was followed by a panel discussion comprising representatives of the Human Rights Commission, Access Canberra, ACT Council on the Ageing and the ACT RVRA. Many questions were posed including those directed to Access Canberra on the operation of the ACT Retirement Villages Act (2012). You can read Access Canberra’s response to questions taken on notice here.
We have now made many new contacts with both Government and industry figures who have been supportive, and co-operative. Other tangible results have seen the committee meeting with Karen Toohey, ACT Discrimination Commissioner at the ACT Human Rights Commission, high level discussions with key Government officials, appearance at the public hearing of the ACT Select Committee on the 2023-24 Budget, and organisation of a meeting with the ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury in July to discuss our proposal for funding the Association and an ACT Retirement Village Ombudsman.
The Forum’s success also resulted in new members who have joined us, including three much-needed committee members. We believe the most important outcome of the Forum was widespread support for our proposal to create the first Australian Retirement Village Ombudsman to assist Retirement Village residents resolve any intractable disputes they have.
We are grateful to the Southern Cross Club, Woden for their generosity in providing the venue free of charge, and to keynote speaker Jim Gibbons, for generously giving freely of his time and travel.
THE ACT RVRA gratefully acknowledges the kind permission of Jim Gibbons and Access Canberra to use respectively the slide presentation and responses to questions on notice.