Chris Baynes

These sector CEOs provide a masterclass in professional development and generosity

It was fascinating last week to learn the extent leaders in our sector have invested in their own education. We were in Adelaide and then Perth at the DCM Institute VILLAGE SUMMITS. In each city two leaders gave their time to share their definition...

Click here

Chris Baynes

18 Nov 2024

Opinion

StewartBrown survey and Code of Conduct essential for the retirement living sector

This week two important initiatives were announced. First StewartBrown announced it is launching an independent survey of retirement living operators, and the second is the Retirement Living Council is reducing the Code of Conduct fees, determined...

Click here

Chris Baynes

10 Nov 2024

Opinion

Is David Di Pilla making a land lease wrap up move on Lifestyle Communities and Ingenia?

Last Thursday David Di Pilla’s HMC Capital notified the ASX it had acquired 2.69% of Lifestyle Communities. It looks like they may also have access to another 4.6%, a total of 7.3%, whilst also owning around 8% of Ingenia. What is his strategy? Di...

Click here

Chris Baynes

05 Nov 2024

Opinion

It is time every village operator signs up to the Code of Conduct

In November 2018, Retirement Living Council President and CEO of RetireAustralia, Alison Quinn (pictured), said the final draft Retirement Living Code of Conduct had now been endorsed by the RLC members and operators were expected to sign up and...

Click here

Chris Baynes

29 Oct 2024

Opinion

Older Australians aren’t fools and are not rusted on to the ABC anymore

Adele Ferguson and ABC 7.30 spent months building their ‘activist’ critique of the retirement villages sector, broadcast across approximately 10 days, from 30 September to 9 October. Few listened and fewer cared. Despite harnessing ABC TV, radio...

Click here

Chris Baynes

22 Oct 2024

Opinion

Complacency comes at a cost for the retirement village sector

In the early 80s I was employed at a Sydney advertising agency. We had many smart clients but one in particular stood out: BP. The ABC 7.30 negative events of the past few weeks tell me that the retirement village sector (and the aged care sector)...

Click here

Chris Baynes

15 Oct 2024

Opinion

It may not be obvious but retirement living and land lease operators have received a ‘win’ in new aged care announcements

When Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced “historic aged care reforms” on 12 September there was no mention of retirement villages or land lease communities. However, behind the new Aged Care Act and in particular co-contribution, that will be...

Click here

Chris Baynes

24 Sep 2024

Opinion

Ryman implosion – bad things a long time coming?

The finance veteran of the Australian retirement village sector is Jim Hazel, and he never misses the opportunity to say that bad things happen; good times do come to an end. They have come to an end for Ryman Healthcare over the past six weeks...

Click here

Chris Baynes

03 Sep 2024

Opinion

False expectations and false hopes – Neil Smith reminded us that residents are to be respected

On Sunday night Neil Smith passed away at the age of 90. It is the end of an era for me. Neil (pictured right above) was the first resident of a retirement village that I ever met. In June 2006 we were launching villages. com. au and our print...

Click here

Chris Baynes

27 Aug 2024

Opinion

ABC 7.30 Report opened a window of opportunity for village operators

Last night’s 7.30 Report on ABC TV gave us a glimpse into the future of retirement villages (and land lease) when no home care and aged care beds are available, and it was grim. Last week I spoke of the fact that it is now a 12+ month wait to get...

Click here

Ian Horswill

20 Aug 2024

Opinion

This is important for land lease and village operators

The next two weeks will decide if the retirement village sector’s big care strategy, to rely on home care delivered into the village, is built on sand. The strategy requires village residents to be assessed and awarded home care packages, and...

Click here

Chris Baynes

13 Aug 2024

Opinion

Facts not fiction: why sectors must invest in independent research

The fallout from the Adele Ferguson / ABC media pile on targeting Victoria’s largest land lease operator, Lifestyle Communities, continues with its share price maintaining its downward drift. In three weeks it has shrunk from $12.56 to $8.53...

Click here

Chris Baynes

06 Aug 2024

Opinion

Where is Labor’s respect for aged care and older, frail Australians? Missing, or it never existed

‘Quality aged care’ was one of Labor’s core electoral platforms. But it’s been eight months since the Taskforce handed in its report. We can only conclude that Labor’s political machine is holding the aged care reins for political purposes.

Click here

Caroline Egan

01 Aug 2024