RLC life membership announcements usher in early conference celebrations 

Two decorated retirement living sector leaders have been inducted as honorary life members of the Retirement Living Council on Thursday as the industry’s premiere event kicked off.

Retirement Living Council (RLC) Executive Director, Daniel Gannon, started proceedings at the National Retirement Living Summit with his opening address. He spoke of the progress the retirement living sector has made over the past 12 months which has been underpinned by extensive research and lobbying to governments. 

“Previously I said there was a big idea in the wings, I told you we were preparing research that would change the way governments, consumers, investors and the sales team would view retirement living,” he said.

“It would change how people see what retirement villages do for the community right around the country. Better Housing, Better Health was released in November last year.

“We now know the residents of your retirement villages are 41% happier, they’re 15% more physically active, they’re twice as likely to catch up with family and friends. They are more socially active and they do experience lower levels of loneliness and depression.”

Mr Gannon also highlighted recent releases, including their Shared Care Framework that can deliver more care per dollar. They’re currently working with the Government to explore its potential. 

Meanwhile, the latest PWC Property Council Retirement Census is about to be released and so too will a National Retirement Living Report Card, “We’re building that compelling library of research,” Mr Gannon added.

He also told the crowd that RLC has been successful in advocating for the Government to include retirement living units in its plan to build 1.2 billion homes by 2029. This has been a focal point for the organisation as they seek out ways to provide better care for older people all while combatting housing affordability and security challenges. 

“Through ongoing communication with ministers about the vital role retirement communities play across the housing ecosystem, we now secure this important recognition. This opens up a gateway for state and territory governments to unleash this type of housing supply back into the housing market,” Mr Gannon said.

“We know it is better housing that is delivering better health outcomes for Australians. Now it shifts to those state and territory governments to make sure we can actually inject these homes into the market.”

Life members bring an early celebration

Thursday morning also saw Mr Gannon officially welcome two new members to the now 18-strong life member cohort at the RLC: Mary-Louise ‘M-L’ MacDonald and Peter Nilsson.

A former RLC National President who navigated the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, Ms MacDonald started out as a Registered Nurse before moving into executive roles across aged care, retirement, healthcare and industrial relations. She is the current CEO for Masonic Care WA.

“M-L brought stability and leadership during a stressful and uncertain time for the sector and the 250,000 residents who lived in a retirement village during the pandemic,” Mr Gannon said.

Speaking to the crowd at the Summit, Ms MacDonald said it was a privilege to be recognised and awarded so highly by her peers. 

“ What I know is, to be in this industry and to look back on it, you have to have passion. Passion gets you everywhere and I have been so privileged to work with the smallest of operators, resident associations, the biggest of operators, staff that I could rely on […] everybody’s driving force the same thing. Excellence,” she said.

“It is so wonderful to look back and to see where we are today and where we’re heading. The challenges are still there and I know that the council is out there and still as part of it, we are out there pushing forward.”

Mr Nilsson, a long-time RLC Board member and Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Community Villages Australia, is one of the sector’s longest-standing leaders. He first started at the Village Glen in 1978 and has been an exemplary leader for the Retirement Village Association (RVA) of Victoria in the past. 

He shared his joy with the crowd after his life membership was revealed. 

“What a special moment. I’ve been to at least 28 of these conferences, and there’s only been 31, and it blows me away how we as a sector share our most intimate knowledge of what we’re all doing without favour,” Mr Nilsson told the Summit.

“That’s the great thing about this sector. We are competitors but we are colleagues. These conferences have driven my journey. For our sector, everyone is on the same train and the same journey and we’re heading up.”